Lions keep young stars Berry and Cutler in the den
BRISBANE have reinforced their future forces after locking away young gun Jarrod Berry and rebounding defender Tom Cutler on two- year contract extensions ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Hawthorn in Launceston.
Berry will be at the Gabba until the end of the 2020 season after impressing in the first five games of his AFL career. The strongly built 19- year- old midfielder was taken late in the first round of last year’s draft and is already viewed as a future leader.
Cutler, 22, will remain in Lions colours until the end of 2019 after playing 38 games since his debut in 2014.
He was sidelined with a hamstring injury but his strong run- and- carry and competitive nature should make him a mainstay of the Brisbane backline.
Brisbane general manager of football David Noble said that both re- signings strengthened the long- term core of the club.
“Jarrod is a ripper. He is a very well- rounded individual with strong aspirations and strong leadership, while Tom is very much a part of our foun- dation for the said.
Berry’s best mate and Brisbane teammate Hugh McCluggage will be rested from the trip to Tasmania while Daniel McStay ( fractured hand) and Mitch Robinson ( broken foot) will also be out of action. They have been replaced by Tom Bell, Rohan Bewick and Josh Walker.
The trio of Walker, Darcy future,’’ Noble Gardiner and Claye Beams will all celebrate their 50- game milestone.
Lions senior coach Chris Fagan says his inside knowledge of Hawthorn will only count for so much. Fagan spent nine years with the Hawks in a variety of high- powered football department positions and helped Hawthorn power to four flags before linking with the Lions.