A further 5 Queenslanders have made it onto AFL Club lists for 2012.
Dreams of AFL greatness are a step closer for five Queenslanders rookie listed by clubs at the 2012 NAB Pre-Season and Rookie Draft.
The Brisbane Lions picked up two of the five, Labrador best & fairest winner Stephen Wrigley at pick 22 and Redland big man Sam Michael at 96.
Cairns’ Josh Hall – a high jumper who gave up training for the London Olympics to focus on AFL – will also stay in Queensland after the Gold Coast Suns selected him with pick 94.
Selection 22, Morningside’s Tom Bell, will be putting on a Blues guernsey and ex-Brisbane Lions rookie Broc Macauley will also make the trip to Melbourne after his number 16 selection by Hawthorn.
A further 3 players with strong Queensland connections were also listed by clubs. Lee Spurr, ex Morningside and U16 and U18 Scorpion player was picked up by Fremantle at selection 8, 2009 Under 16 Young Scorpion Matthew Lodge was selected by Carlton at 67 and Brisbane Lions used pick 57 to secure the services of Richard Newell, who played under 18 State level football for Queensland in 2011.
MEET THE QUEENSLAND ROOKIES
Tom Bell
Pick 14 – Carlton
DOB: 13/6/1991
Height: 187cm
Weight: 95kg
Club: Morningside
Major Achievements: Played 2 games as a Lions reserves top-up player, 2010 Queensland U21 player and was called up as a State over-age player in 2010. State level cross country runner and top level kite boarder.
Broc McCauley
Pick 16 – Hawthorn
DOB: 20/12/1986
Height: 202cm
Weight: 98kg
Clubs: Southport, Brisbane Lions
Major Achievements: named in QAFL 2009 Team of year, rookie listed by Brisbane Lions 2009, State selection 2009.
Stephen Wrigley
Pick 22 – Brisbane Lions
DOB: 18/4/87
Height: 187cm
Weight: 83kg
Clubs: Labrador
Major Achievements: 2011 AFL Draft Combine, 2011 Labrador Best & Fairest and runner-up 2010.
Josh Hall
Pick 74 – Gold Coast Suns
DOB: 3/04/90
Height: 197cm
Club: Townsville
Major Achievements: A national high jump champion, Hall has been playing football for just two years. Trialled with Gold Coast Suns in 2011.
Sam Michael
Pick 96 – Brisbane Lions
DOB: 5/7/93
Height: 200cm
Weight: 93kg
Clubs: Redland Seniors and Cairns Hawks
Major Achievements: AIS/AFL Academy 2010/11, U18 Scorpions 2010/2011, Cairns First Year Best Umpire 2006, Winner 2005 Cairns Public Speaking Competition.
