The Brisbane Lions have locked down Jarrod Berry with a five-year contract extension while Charlie Cameron also added time to his deal in another recruitment victory for the resurgent AFL side.
The pair’s deals were confirmed on Tuesday, one month after Berry’s good mate and fellow 2016 draftee Hugh McCluggage locked in a mammoth seven-year extension to remain at the Gabba.
Superstar small forward Cameron, already contracted until the end of next season, has added another three seasons to his paperwork.
The 29-year-old, two-time All Australian who burst to prominence with Adelaide, now expects to retire as a Lion.
Former North Ballarat teammates McCluggage and Berry were due to be restricted free agents at season’s end and juicy targets for rival clubs.
But they both opted to remain in Brisbane, where last year’s grand finalists have stormed back from a shoddy 2-5 start to win four straight games and return to the top eight.
“It is a pretty awesome moment, super proud of my journey so far and being able to stick with the one club is pretty special to me,” Berry said.
“It was nice to see the club put their faith in me, and I’ll be here for a little bit longer.
“The people, the friendships and bonds I’ve formed over the eight years I have been here and the people outside of the club that support me has been tremendous.
“It was pretty easy for me to not want to leave, and I feel like I’ve built a life up here and it’s been pretty good, so I am excited about the future.”
Berry has been effective in a tagging role and also a general midfield or wing presence, he and McCluggage both kicking crucial goals in the side’s comeback defeat of Melbourne on Friday.
“It’s people and players like Bez that help make the Brisbane Lions Football Club what it is, so to have him staying for another five years is fantastic,” Lions football boss Danny Daly said of Berry.
“On the training track and in games he is someone that works hard and gives their absolute all for their teammates, even if that means sacrificing their own game.
“Then off the field is a great bloke and very popular person around our club that we love having here.”
