Brisbane keen for Tippett- Brown duo

Kurt Tippett playing against the Brisbane Lions. Picture: Darren England Source: The Courier-Mail

BRISBANE started the AFL's month-long free agency and trade period chasing Kurt Tippett to be captain Jonathan Brown's partner in crime.

It took until the last hour of the drawn-out festival of wheeling, dealing and posturing for the Lions to secure Melbourne's Stefan Martin as Brown's forward-line foil.

Brisbane parted with their No.53 and No.73 draft picks at next month's national draft in exchange for Martin on the frenetic final day of trading.

Eleven of the 38 deals done in the past month were completed yesterday reinforcing how ludicrously long the trade period was.

It could all get done in two weeks. Teams took a month to sign-off on trades because they knew they could.

The Lions and Demons were locked in a stalemate for two days following Martin's visit to Brisbane earlier this week with the Demons chasing pick No.33.

The Lions were only willing to part with pick No.53 but added pick No.73 yesterday to sweeten the pot.

Martin played 57 matches in five seasons with the Demons.

He played just seven games in a 2012 season interrupted by a number of injuries, but 2011 was a breakout year for the former basketballer when he averaged 17.3 disposals and 14.9 hitouts per game.

At 198cm and 103kg, Martin is an athletic big man who can fill the ruckman/key forward role that vice-captain and key defender Daniel Merrett was forced to play in 2012.

Merrett can return to defence with Brown and Martin to fill the key forward roles. Martin will also relieve Matthew Leuenberger in the ruck.

Brisbane national talent manager Rob Kerr said Martin's versatility was crucial.

"Structurally, a player of Stefan's ability is critically important as it provides us with a flexible tall who can be effective both in the ruck and around the ground," Kerr said.

"The shifting ruck rules seem to suit players with Stefan's athletic capabilities."

Brisbane's talls will also get a boost with the return of utility Brent Staker who can play forward or back. Staker is coming back from a knee reconstruction but is recording outstanding results in the gym and on the training track.

Meanwhile, former Lion Justin Sherman has parted ways with the Western Bulldogs.

Sherman slammed Brisbane's culture when he left the Gabba at the end of 2010 to link with the Bulldogs, but he did not find Whitten Oval to his liking either, playing 24 games in two seasons.

Sherman, 25, still had a year to run on his contract, but reached a settlement with the club after just 10 senior appearances in 2012.

Suns defender Josh Toy is set to nominate for the pre-season draft in December after the Gold Coast was unable to find a suitable trade.

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