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Justin Leppitsch will start his term as Brisbane coach by working the phones in a bid to keep a host of talented youngsters from walking away from the AFL club.
Leppitsch is confident he can convince Elliot Yeo, Billy Longer and Sam Docherty to stay despite boardroom dramas and unrest over the sacking of former coach Michael Voss.
Jared Polec, Brisbane’s No.5 pick in the 2010 draft, is determined to return to South Australia.
“I’m going to do my very best to keep the kids and ratify the issues they may have,” said Leppitsch, who spent time as an assistant coach at Brisbane and Richmond before winning the race to replace Voss, his Lions’ 2001-03 premiership teammate.
“We have some list issues to tidy up.
“We’ll do that today. It’s critically important we get started on that.
“I’d love to keep every one of those players.
“They are draft picks of the last few seasons and we need to get them on board and they’re a very important part of the future.
“I’ll do my very best to retain and present to them that shows a very clear and bright future and a pathway for them.”
Leppitsch did not rule out the possibility of making a bid for Richmond’s out-of-contract midfielder Dustin Martin.
“I know Dusty well,” Leppitsch said.
“I do have my views but I won’t share them here today.
“It’d be premature for me to talk about those sorts of things.”
Skipper Jonathan Brown, 32, has lauded Leppitsch’s appointment, which has convinced him to play on for one more year in 2014.
Simon Black, 34, the only other member of the current squad to have been part of the three flag-winning teams in 2001-03, could also extend his career for another season under Leppitsch.
AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick invited Brisbane chairman Angus Johnson’s Lions’ board and a rival ticket led by Lions’ premiership coach Leigh Matthews to mediation talks in Melbourne on Tuesday in an attempt to end in-fighting.
Leppitsch – who has signed on for three years as head coach – said the boardroom dramas wouldn’t affect the players and coaches.
“My job is to coach the team but I still understand within that you need a stable organisation,” Leppitsch said.
“The club’s very aware of that and that’s going to happen.
“Things will sort out and we’ll drive to our next premiership.”
Johnson fronted a media conference alongside Leppitsch but did little to inspire confidence.
“Today’s about Justin Leppitsch and I won’t be answering any questions,” Johnson said.
Asked how Leppitsch would take the club forward beyond the efforts of Voss, whose side finished 12th, Johnson said: “I didn’t sit in on any of the interviews. I don’t think it’s an appropriate question.”
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