The moment of air-defying brilliance typified the finest purple patch of Kai Lohmann’s career: the Brisbane Lions’ chief entertainer turned match-turner who could soon attract lucrative offers from rival clubs.
The defending champions had been shell-shocked in the opening quarter of Saturday’s come-from-behind win against West Coast, before Lohmann soared to clinch what could be a contender for mark of the year.
His goal that followed cut the Eagles’ 22-point lead down, and Brisbane would eventually claw their way back to secure their sixth-straight triumph.
But Lohmann briefly had to contend with a red-faced Logan Morris after launching off his shoulders.
“He actually sprayed me because I didn’t say anything, and he didn’t know if it was me or a West Coast player,” Lohmann said.
“But he’s fine with it, we had a laugh after the game about it.”
That goal was one of Lohmann’s four for the afternoon, and continued the form which has yielded 15 majors in his past five games.
Such has been his consistency – his 36 goals for the year an equal-best milestone – the Victorian product is likely to command rival interest before his contract ends in 2027.
After an injury-riddled 2025 – ankle, shoulder and calf concerns the main setbacks, after a breakout 2024 in which he kicked four grand final goals – a frank conversation was the catalyst for Lohmann’s resurgence.
“I think just there’s a little bit of confidence attacking the game how I wanted to play, and how I was in 2024. Hugh McCluggage has been helping me with a bit of that stuff, and it’s been working the last couple of weeks,” Lohmann said, ahead of Sunday’s Gabba clash with Port Adelaide.
“Before the bye I was struggling, and I had a couple of down games, and he just reminded me of 2024 and some of the stuff I was doing in the finals.
“He actually said to watch the grand final again, and it just reminded me of how good I can be.
“I just kept moving, and my pressure stuff was really good, so I’m just getting back to that.”
Lohmann and Morris – pinned as the long-term leaders of Brisbane’s forward line – come off contract at the same time, but Lions co-captain Josh Dunkley remained confident the club would retain the bulk of its premiership-winning talents.
“You sell the success element to it. When you ask a lot of boys when it comes to decision time or signing a contract, they’d probably rather the success than the money,” Dunkley said.
“You might lose a couple along the way, but keeping those important pieces to the puzzle is really important for our group.”
Lohmann faced a contract conundrum in 2023, in which he managed just eight games from his 2022 debut and battled homesickness.
People at the club – spearheaded by coach Chris Fagan and football manager Danny Daly – kept him committed to a cause which has yielded two flags.
“I broke my collarbone out here in a final against Williamstown, and then the support I got made me realise how good a place it was,” Lohmann said.
Fagan’s future is also uncertain – he is yet to confirm whether he will coach on.
A Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame inductee, Fagan told Channel Seven last year that if an advisory role presented itself with the incoming Devils – who will launch in 2028 – which would allow him live in Melbourne near his daughters and grandchildren, he would be open to it.
Devils coach Ken Hinkley has since been unveiled as the inaugural coach.
Dunkley admitted he was unsure if players would be swayed on their own futures depending on what Fagan decided to do.
“He’s picking me, so I hope he stays a bit longer,” Dunkley said.
“I haven’t had a conversation with Fages about what he wants to do in the future.
“We just want to try and keep the group together.
“Football is not just the players; it’s the staff, it’s the admin staff upstairs, it’s everyone staying together because we’re on this journey together.”
