Logan Morris: Brisbane Lions Forward’s Rise to AFL Stardom

Logan Morris has quickly become one of the most exciting young forwards in the AFL. Drafted by the Brisbane Lions with pick 31 in 2023, he went from an unexpected debut involving borrowed boots and two games in one day to a premiership player and a key part of Brisbane’s forward line.

Still only 21, Morris has already achieved what many players spend a full career chasing. He has played in major finals, won premierships, kicked important goals and earned the trust of Chris Fagan and his teammates. Brisbane have also moved to secure his future, extending his contract through to the end of 2029. AFL

His rise has been fast, but it has not been accidental. Morris worked through setbacks as a junior footballer, responded to tough feedback and built himself into the type of forward who can impact a game in more than one way.

Who Is Logan Morris?

Logan Morris is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Brisbane Lions. He is a key forward, stands at 191 centimetres and was born on May 10, 2005.

He came through the Western Jets in Victoria’s Talent League before Brisbane selected him in the 2023 national draft. At the time, he was seen as a versatile forward with a strong marking ability and a natural eye for goal.

Morris was not one of the early draft selections who arrived with huge headlines around him. Instead, he was picked at No. 31, a spot that now looks like excellent value for the Lions.

Brisbane saw more than just a tall forward. The club saw someone who could compete in the air, work hard on the ground and improve quickly in a professional environment.

That belief was rewarded almost immediately.

His early career has made him one of the standout young forwards in the league. By 2026, he had passed 50 AFL games and produced a goal return that compared strongly with the best early starts in Brisbane’s history. lions.com.au

The Setback That Changed His Junior Career

Morris’s path to the AFL was not always smooth.

As a bottom-age player with the Western Jets, he was dropped from the side. The feedback was direct. He needed to become fitter and work harder.

For some young players, that kind of moment can knock confidence. Morris took it as a challenge.

Rather than letting the setback define him, he returned with a stronger attitude and improved his work rate. It became a turning point in his development.

Recruiters often look for talent, but they also pay close attention to how players react when things do not go their way. Morris showed that he could listen, improve and keep working.

That response helped him move into the national picture.

He later represented Vic Metro and made an impression with his ability to find the ball and hit the scoreboard. A five-goal performance in difficult conditions caught attention, while his work at under-18 level showed he could perform against strong opponents.

Morris also kicked 30 goals in consecutive seasons with the Western Jets. That consistency was a major sign that he had the potential to become a reliable forward at senior level.

Brisbane’s Smart Draft Selection

The 2023 national draft was an important night for Logan Morris and the Brisbane Lions.

After the first round was completed, Brisbane had an early selection on the second night. The club had Morris high on its list and was hoping he would still be available.

When West Coast selected Archer Reid with the pick before Brisbane, the Lions moved quickly and took Morris at No. 31.

It was a decision that made sense for both sides. Brisbane had an ageing forward line with experienced players such as Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood, and the club needed to keep planning for the future.

Morris gave them a young option who could learn from established forwards while developing at his own pace.

He made a strong impression almost immediately. In an early intra-club practice game, Morris kicked five goals. It was only a practice match, but it showed the Lions that his talent could translate to the senior environment.

The club had not drafted him to sit on the list for years without opportunity. They believed he could contribute sooner than expected.

The Debut That Became AFL Folklore

Logan Morris’s AFL debut in 2024 was one of the most unusual and memorable first games in recent years.

He started the day playing for Brisbane’s VFL side against Gold Coast. He collected 14 possessions and kicked a goal, covering around 13 kilometres during the match.

After the game, he expected to head to the Gabba to watch the AFL QClash. He stopped for a McDonald’s meal, had a frappe and nuggets, then later had soup and bread before settling in to watch the senior side.

Then everything changed.

Brandon Starcevich was injured in the warm-up, creating a late spot in Brisbane’s match-day group. Morris was found and told he would be the substitute. There was only one problem: he had left his boots at the VFL venue.

Will Ashcroft stepped in and lent him a pair. Morris usually wore size 13 boots, while Ashcroft’s were size 12. They were tight, but there was no time to worry about comfort.

Soon after the match began, injuries forced Morris onto the ground.

He had already played a full VFL game, expected to be a spectator and suddenly found himself making his AFL debut in front of a record QClash crowd.

Morris finished with five possessions, a goal and several score involvements. Across both matches, he ran an extraordinary total distance for one day of football.

It was the kind of debut story fans remember. The fast food, the borrowed boots, the late call-up and the goal all made it feel almost too unbelievable to be real.

Becoming a Premiership Player

Morris did not take long to become an important part of Brisbane’s senior side.

He played 19 matches in his debut season and showed enough to earn a Rising Star nomination. He was not simply filling a position. He was making real contributions in attack and learning what it took to play in a team competing for the biggest prize.

Brisbane reached the 2024 AFL Grand Final, and Morris was part of the side that delivered a premiership for the club.

For a player in his first season, appearing on the AFL’s biggest stage was already a huge achievement. Kicking two goals in a grand final victory made it even more special.

It showed that Morris could handle pressure.

Young forwards are often judged too quickly. If they do not kick goals every week, people can question their place in the team. But Morris had already shown a calmness that suggested he belonged.

He did not look overwhelmed by the moment. He competed, worked hard and took his opportunities.

That premiership experience gave him a platform for the next stage of his career.

Logan Morris’s Breakout 2025 Season

The 2025 season was when Morris became more than a promising young player.

He emerged as Brisbane’s leading goalkicker and developed into one of the club’s most dangerous attacking weapons. His ability to take contested marks, lead hard at the football and finish around goal made him difficult to match up on.

He also benefited from playing alongside experienced teammates. Brisbane’s forward line has often included multiple tall targets, quick small forwards and midfielders who can hit the scoreboard.

Morris learned how to work within that structure rather than trying to do everything himself.

That is an important trait for a key forward. The best forwards understand when to lead, when to create space for others and when to bring the ball to ground for their teammates.

Morris has shown that he understands those details. His teammates trust him to compete in the air, but they also know he can help create chances even when he does not take the final mark.

His 2025 form earned recognition across the league and confirmed that Brisbane had found a major part of its future forward line.

A Forward Who Brings More Than Goals

Goals are the most obvious way to judge a forward, but they are not the only measure of Logan Morris’s value.

He can mark the ball strongly, especially when leading into space. He is prepared to chase and pressure defenders. He works back toward the ball and gives Brisbane another target when the team needs an outlet.

At 191 centimetres, Morris is tall enough to compete as a key forward but mobile enough to avoid being predictable.

That versatility is valuable in modern AFL. Defenders cannot simply stand behind him and wait for a long kick. Morris can move up the ground, lead into different lanes and bring teammates into the game.

He has also shown a strong competitive streak. Even when the ball is not coming his way, he keeps working. That effort helps Brisbane’s defensive pressure, which is one of the foundations of the Lions’ game.

Young forwards can sometimes focus only on kicking goals. Morris appears to understand that his role is bigger than his own statistics.

Big Moments and the Seven-Goal QClash

One of Morris’s biggest performances came in a QClash when he kicked seven goals and won the Marcus Ashcroft Medal.

The match showed what he can do when Brisbane’s midfield gets on top and gives him quality delivery. He was confident, accurate and hard to stop in the air.

Seven goals in any AFL match is a major achievement. Doing it in a QClash adds another layer because games between Brisbane and Gold Coast carry extra emotion and intensity.

That performance also changed how opponents viewed him. Morris was no longer simply a young player developing in a strong side. He was becoming someone who demanded serious defensive attention.

Opposition coaches began planning more carefully for him. Defenders started treating him as a genuine key target, not just another forward option.

That is a sign of respect.

Why Brisbane Wanted Him Until 2029

Brisbane’s decision to extend Morris’s contract until 2029 was an important piece of business.

Young key forwards are difficult to find. They take time to develop, and once they establish themselves, rival clubs often become interested.

Morris had already been linked with possible interest from other teams, including clubs in Victoria and expansion sides. But he chose to remain at Brisbane.

His reported comments about enjoying life with his teammates gave supporters a clear message. For Morris, the club environment and friendships matter just as much as the financial side of football.

That is a major positive for the Lions.

Brisbane have built a culture where players want to stay, compete for flags and grow together. Keeping Morris gives the club long-term stability in a part of the ground that can be difficult to rebuild.

He is now part of a forward group that can carry Brisbane into its next era.

What Comes Next for Logan Morris?

Logan Morris has already achieved plenty, but he still has enormous room to grow.

He has the talent to become one of the AFL’s premier key forwards. To reach that level, he will need to keep improving his strength, consistency and ability to handle the best defenders every week.

The good news for Brisbane is that he seems to have the right mindset.

His early junior setback taught him the value of hard work. His strange debut taught him to be ready for anything. His grand final experience taught him that he belongs in big moments.

At 21, Morris has time on his side. With Brisbane committed to him through 2029, he can keep developing in an environment that already knows how to win.

For Lions supporters, Logan Morris represents the future. He is a young forward with a memorable story, a strong work ethic and the potential to become one of the club’s next great goalkickers.