Brisbane may make a last-ditch bid to keep Tom Rockliff after the former Lions captain nominated Port Adelaide as his preferred next AFL club.
The Power will table a deal for free agent Rockliff, who believes the club provides his best opportunity to play finals, during the upcoming trade period.
But Lions coach Chris Fagan has expressed a reluctance to lose one of the wooden spooner's few experienced midfielders.
"You're a little bit disappointed because a lot of work did go into Tom during the year, but Tom put a lot of work in himself, too," Fagan told Melbourne radio RSN on Wednesday.
"There's still a bit to play out with that one. We don't know what Port Adelaide's offer is. We may choose to match it because he's a restricted free agent.
"(But) it's not the end of the world. You do get a compensation pick if he does go and that will be a good player for sure, because it'll be somewhere in the top 20 (draft picks).
"So it could be good for Tom and it could be good for the footy club."
Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies acknowledged a deal "of some significance" would need to be tabled to lure Rockliff, a Lion for the last nine years.
But his desire to play finals for the first time put the club in a strong position to lure the 27-year-old.
"We're really comfortable we've got the ability to do it," Davies told AFL Trade Radio.
"We think Tom can add significantly to a pretty good midfield already, but certainly will add some outstanding depth.
"We're rapt that we're in this position."
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