Ahead of his 150th game Brisbane forward Callum Ah Chee is buoyed by his journey, including hiccups along the way, to playing the best footy of his career.

In his 10th season, Ah Chee, 27, says the pressure he placed on himself as a highly-touted draft pick has been released in recent years.

"I think I've shown and I'm a pretty resilient character. It's not easy getting to this stage in your career, let alone playing one AFL game," he said.

"I've had hiccups along the way, but I think for me it's just been about leaning on the people around me, and family and my close friends who have supported me along the way…that's held me in good stead."

Ah Chee landed at Brisbane from the Suns alongside a fourth round draft pick in exchange for a second round pick ahead of the 2020 season.

Injury limited the 2015 Draft no.8 pick's last year on the Gold Coast to a single appearance, and 45th overall from four seasons at his original club.

He reached career-heights on Brisbane's premiership path in 2024, playing a career high 26 games in a campaign, with a best return of 27 majors in their front 50.

It included a four goal performance in his side's 10 goal win over Sydney to see the Lions lift the trophy for the first time in two decades, and starring moments in a nail-biting preliminary final triumph over Geelong to get them there.

12 months earlier, Ah Chee was subbed out at half time of a heartbreaking grand final loss to Collingwood with injury after six touches.

He played his 100th game as a Lion earlier this year.

"It's been a bit of a journey to get to this stage and feel like I'm playing some of my best footing now, and just loving playing football at the moment," Ah Chee said.

"I'm just so lucky to be able to be here now and still playing football and in my 10th year now," he later added, "early on in my career, I probably put a lot of pressure on myself to perform and show people why I got drafted so high…that didn't help.

"I think as I've gotten older and had kids and matured a bit, that pressure has sort of been released. And feel like I'm playing my most instinctive footy now and just going out and having fun and realising what opportunity I have.

"I feel like I've definitely played my best football in the last few years. And I think that just comes off the back of belief and not putting so much pressure on myself and just going out and playing footy. I feel really at home now at the Lions."

The Lions are 5-1 in the opening stages of their premiership defence, with a 50-point loss to their 2023 grand final opponents last weekend handing them their first loss.

Speaking this week, Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said their "leaking" of big scores isn't up to scratch and has been a major focus in preparations to face St Kilda on Saturday.

"We expect their best. I guess they're going to come out flying. I always want to start well. Hopefully it's us throwing the first punch and we come home with the chocolates," Ah Chee said ahead of his milestone game.

In the west, Tim Kelly will miss what would have been his 150th after he was omitted from the Eagles side to play Hawthorn on Sunday afternoon.

According to reports, a toe injury the midfielder has been carrying has worsened during training through the week.

Kelly will miss his second match in three weeks after being dropped to the Eagles' WAFL side before collecting 22 touches in a three point loss to Essendon in his return last week.