Brisbane Lions delist West Australian defender Jaxon Prior, Darcy Craven to be handed rookie lifeline

Brisbane has delisted West Australian defender Jaxon Prior after the trade period.

Prior played 39 games for the Lions across four seasons, but only nine in the past two years as the club made back-to-back grand finals and won its first premiership in more than two decades.

The 23-year-old was drafted to the club with pick 59 in the 2019 national draft out of West Perth.

He is the son of former Essendon and West Coast player and ex-Eagles AFLW coach Michael Prior.

The Lions have told WA mid-season draft recruit Darcy Craven — from Bridgetown in the State’s south — they will reselect him in the pre-season rookie draft, along with defender Darragh Joyce.

Prior’s delisting comes after the club retained Deven Robertson, despite vowing during this month’s trade period to help facilitate a deal if one worked for the club.

The Falcons product averaged just over nine disposals a game in his four matches this season.

Spots in the Brisbane side will become even harder to come by next season, with the club set to land Levi Ashcroft — the son of club great Marcus and brother of Norm Smith medallist Will — and academy product Sam Marshall.

Lions football boss Danny Daly said the defender had played “strong patches of football” in his final season at the club.

“Jaxon showed encouraging development since being drafted and played a role in our success at AFL and VFL level,” he said.

“He played strong patches of football this season, however, given the cut-throat nature of professional sport we need to make tough decisions with list spots.

“We would like to thank Jaxon, his partner Bronte and his family for their contribution to the Brisbane Lions for the past five seasons.”

Denmark product Kalin Lane has already been delisted after battling injury during his time at the club, as has Carter Michael.