Brandon Starcevich is set to join the West Coast Eagles following his farewell from the Brisbane Lions, where he was acknowledged during the club’s best and fairest night. Starcevich’s future had been uncertain as he contemplated his next move. Although North Melbourne and Essendon were potential contenders, it appears he is keen to return home to Perth now that he is a free agent.
Lions coach Chris Fagan confirmed that both Starcevich and teammate Callum Ah Chee would be leaving the club, indicating that their decisions are understood and appreciated. Fagan expressed heartfelt gratitude for their contributions, saying, “I can’t thank those guys enough for the contributions they’ve made. Both fellas are real team players.” It was reported that Starcevich received a lucrative six-year offer from West Coast to seal the deal, leading to his departure after 132 games since being drafted in 2018.
Alongside Starcevich, Ah Chee has requested a trade, which has been sanctioned, allowing him to join Adelaide. Fagan acknowledged the bittersweet nature of such departures, stating, “While it is disappointing to have premiership players and high-quality people leave the organisation, we understand this is the nature of the industry at times.”
The Lions’ list manager, Dom Ambrogio, also confirmed the departures, which will prompt the club to focus on securing promising outcomes moving forward. Along with Starcevich and Ah Chee, players Darcy Craven and Brandon Ryan will not be receiving new contracts for 2026, while Sam Day has announced his retirement from the sport.