AS he bids to keep his AFL dreams alive, former Gold Coast and Brisbane forward Tom Berry will play a handful of BFNL games for Redan this season.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old former Greater Western Victoria Rebels player’s signing was unveiled by the Lions last week.<\/p>\n
A link with new Lions coach Marc Greig will see him take to the field for the club when he isn’t in action for his VFL club Southport.<\/p>\n
Berry, drafted by Brisbane with pick number 26 in the 2018 national draft, played 20 games with the Lions between 2019-21, before adding 23 with the Suns from 2022-25.<\/p>\n
He was delisted at the end of the 2025 season.<\/p>\n
Greig, who coached Berry during his days with the Rebels, said he was glad to see him both have ‘one last crack’ at reviving his AFL career by signing with Southport and commit to whatever games he could play with Redan.<\/p>\n
He said the club was excited to not only add a player of his ability on the field, but also with his approach to preparation and professionalism.<\/p>\n
“Whatever games he plays for our club will be a bonus,” Greig said.<\/p>\n
“We know we aren’t going to get him for eight or 10 games and that’s totally fine, but what we are getting is a good person.<\/p>\n
“If he comes down and plays a game or two, the boys will see that when you work at it, just how fit you can get and what training you need to do if the young up-and-comers want to make it to AFL.<\/p>\n
“Him and I are on the same page; one, he is here to help promote the club, and two, if he can play some games, that is awesome.”<\/p>\n
Originally from Wimmera league club, Berry was a boarder at Ballarat Clarendon College in his Rebels days.<\/p>\n
He is one of four Lions players currently on VFL lists, who will return to Redan when not selected by their clubs.<\/p>\n
Taj Bond and Rory Gunsser were both offered contracts by Geelong over the summer, while Cooper Craig-Peters will remain with Western Bulldogs.<\/p>\n
As the countdown to round one continues, Redan met Grovedale in a practice match last Saturday at Sebastopol.<\/p>\n
Greig said the club was on track to kick off the season against Lake Wendouree with a relatively clean bill of health, with some obvious exceptions.<\/p>\n
“Over the last couple of weeks there’s probably been a few minor ones (hiccups); a couple of rolled ankles etc., so didn’t play those boys (against Grovedale),” he said.<\/p>\n
“We’re keen to make sure they are right for round one.<\/p>\n
“Dean Matthews just had surgery for a scaphoid and is five or six weeks away minimum and Patrick Fitzgibbon has had a bit of groin complaint, but those things are out of your control.<\/p>\n
“You do your head in worrying about those things.<\/p>\n
“But the season is getting closer and it’s getting real.”<\/p>\n
Greig is encouraged by the returns of Jacob Werts, who missed all of last season, and Grant Bell, who featured in only one game last season, the round two clash against Bacchus Marsh, before succumbing to a knee injury.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AS he bids to keep his AFL dreams alive, former Gold Coast and Brisbane forward Tom Berry will play a handful of BFNL games for Redan this season. The 25-year-old former Greater Western Victoria Rebels player’s signing was unveiled by the Lions last week. A link with new Lions coach Marc Greig will see him […]<\/p>\n