Adelaide are positioning themselves as a major player in the pursuit of Brisbane star Zac Bailey, with The Age reporting the Crows are set to be “one of the most aggressive” suitors for the 25-year-old.
Bailey, fresh from earning his first All-Australian blazer, looms as one of the hottest names heading towards free agency in 2026.
He is understood to be on the radar of several clubs, with Essendon already linked to a potential six-year, $8 million deal, a contract that would make him the highest-paid Bomber in history.
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Bailey’s value has skyrocketed off the back of a standout campaign where he averaged 20 disposals, 4.7 marks, 1.5 goals and 3.3 inside 50s, cementing his status as a lethal centre-forward option.
Despite the growing interest, he remains contracted for another season, and with Brisbane firmly in the premiership window, a move in 2025 appears unlikely. Instead, clubs are setting their sights further ahead, hoping to prise him away once his current deal expires.
The Lions, meanwhile, are strengthening their list rather than bracing for exits. Star forward Oscar Allen is poised to join their attacking line, while ruckman Sam Draper is expected to arrive as a free agent.
For Adelaide, a successful push for Bailey would build on last year’s recruitment drive that brought Alex Neal-Bullen, James Peatling and Isaac Cumming to West Lakes. With the club climbing the ladder, luring a South Australian product back home would mark their boldest strike yet.