Melbourne’s 2011 best and fairest winner Brent Moloney is set to join Brisbane as an AFL free agent.

The 28-year-old has played 145 AFL games, 23 with Geelong and 122 with the Demons, but fell out of favour under new coach Mark Neeld and played just 15 senior matches this year.

Several clubs showed interest in the strongly-built ball-winner, but Moloney’s manager Bruce Kaider said a meeting with Lions coach Michael Voss swayed him towards Brisbane.

“Playing under Michael Voss was something he was keen to do,” Kaider told AAP.

“He loved the way Voss went about it when he played and I think Vossy likes the way he plays too.

“They genuinely think that Brent can help them win games of football and make a contribution as a leader.”

Kaider said a switch of states was also an attraction.

The Lions have offered Moloney a two-year contract.

As he is a restricted free agent, the Demons theoretically have the option of retaining the midfielder by matching Brisbane’s offer within 72 hours.

But they are not expected to stand in his way, given Moloney had made it clear for some time he was seeking a way out of the club.