After suffering a heavy knock to the head at training on January 18, 2016, defenderJustin Clarke was ruled out of football indefinitely, eventually retiring due to long-term health concerns.[1] At the end of the 2016 seasonTrent West andDaniel Merrett both retired as well, Trent due to injury frustrations[2] and Merrett due to wanting to spend more time with his family.[3] The Lions also delisted five players:Hugh Beasley,Billy Evans,Josh McGuinness,Jackson Paine andJosh Watts.[4]
During the trade period, Brisbane traded IrishmanPearce Hanley to rival clubGold Coast in a complicated three-way trade also involvingPort Adelaide.[5] Out of contractCollingwood playerJack Frost requested a trade to Brisbane after not managing to play an AFL match in 2016.[6] He was traded to Brisbane along with Pick 76 in the 2016 national draft and Collilngwood's third round pick in the 2017 national draft in exchange for Brisbane's third and fourth round picks in the 2017 national draft.[7] After the trade period Brisbane delisted forwardJosh Green.[8]
Brisbane started the season with a two-point win overGold Coast in the firstQClash of the season despite Gold Coast fighting back from a 47-point deficit,[13] but they went on to lose their next nine matches, going into their bye round with a 1-9 record and on the bottom of the ladder.[14] After the week off they played against top eight sideFremantle and won by 57 points to end their losing streak and take the Dockers out of the top eight.[15] Their form improved somewhat for the rest of the season, winning a total of five games before the final round. Their final match was againstNorth Melbourne with the loser to finish on the bottom of the ladder. When North Melbourne won the match by 51 points, Brisbane secured their firstwooden spoon since 1998.[16]
In May 2016, the club launched a bid to enter a team in the inauguralAFL Women's season in2017.[17] The Brisbane Lions were granted a license on 15 June 2016, becoming one of eight teams to compete in the league's first season.[18] Former AFL Queensland employee Breeanna Brock was appointed to the position of Women’s CEO the following day.[18]
Tayla Harris andSabrina Frederick-Traub were the club's first signings, unveiled along with the league's other 14 marquee players on 27 July 2016.[19] A further 23 senior players and two rookie players were added to the club's inaugural list in the league'sdrafting and signing period. Emma Zielke will captain the team for their inaugural season.[20]
Former Collingwood and Brisbane Bears player and AFL Queensland coachCraig Starcevich was appointed the team's inaugural head coach in June 2016.[21] The rest of the coaching team was announced on 8 November 2016 as David Lake as the midfield coach,Daniel Merrett as the backline coach andBrent Staker as the forward coach.[22]
Existing club sponsor Hyundai, along with Epic Pharmacy, will sponsor the team in 2017.[23]
Brisbane also fielded their reserves team in theNorth East Australian Football League for the 7th season. They won 15 of their 18 regular season games to finish 2nd on the ladder, then won finals againstSydney University andSydney's reserves team to claim their 3rd premiership in the league.[24]
