Josh Drummond will remain a Brisbane Lion for at least the next two years after inking a new deal with the club recently.
The Lions played an exhibition match against Melbourne in China recently and Maroochydore product Drummond committed to Brisbane when he returned from Shanghai.
It ended a lengthy process for the half-back flanker who was repeatedly linked to other clubs.
Drummond, 27, said he was happy to finally sort a deal which will see him wear the Lions colours until at least the end of 2012.
“If I had a dollar for every time I was asked if I was leaving I’d be a rich man,” he told the Daily yesterday.
“It’s good to get it out of the way and to be able to look forward to the pre-season.
“I never wanted to go anywhere else. I never had any issues and I wasn’t looking elsewhere.
“It was just working with the club to come to an agreement in terms of years and to find a happy medium.
“With the club’s position with staff leaving and the off-field things, it’s slowed the process down. That’s why it took a while.”
Drummond missed the majority of the 2010 season after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
He underwent the revolutionary Ligament Augmentation Reconstruction Surgery and was fit to play the backend of the season.
But, with the Lions unable to make the finals, coach Michael Voss opted to give Drummond more recovery time.
The Lions start pre-season training on Monday and Drummond said he was itching to get on to the park.
“I’m in a bit of a different position to the other guys, having not played so much of the year,” he said. “I’m pretty keen to get out there and have a run.
“The knee was good to go at the end of the year but I’ve been taking it easy over the last couple of months and getting ready for a big pre-season and year.”
Drummond didn’t play in the Shanghai Showdown against the Demons with the club opting to blood some of its younger players.
He was in supreme form early this year before injuring his knee against Fremantle in round 7 at the Gabba.
Article written by Travis Meyn for the Sunshine Coast Daily.
Last Modified on 23/11/2010 11:10