Harwood leads Lions’ cuts to list

THE Lions have begun their annual delistings, with Ryan Harwood the most experienced player to be informed his contract would not be renewed.

Senior listed players Jarrad Jansen, Jonathan Freeman, Josh Clayton and rookie Blake Grewar have also been cut.

Harwood played 81 AFL games since making his debut in Round 17, 2010 but has battled numerous injuries throughout this career.

Queenslander Freeman was the first graduate of the Lions academy to make it onto the senior list, and managed 14 AFL games, but was overtaken by fellow key forwards Eric Hipwood, Michael Close and Josh Schache. Clayton was a father-son selection who made two senior appearances, while Jansen was recruited from Geelong and played eight games for the Lions.

Grewar, Jansen, Clayton and Freeman all played in the Lions’ NEAFL grand final win over Sydney. Lions general manager of football operations David Noble thanked the players for their service.

“This time of the season is always difficult, especially when you have to let good people go,’’ he said.