Brisbane Lions NSW scholarship holder Richard Newell has been cleared to represent the Australia Post Queensland Scorpions in the 2011 NAB Australian U18 Championships.
Thursday, 2 June, 2011
Brisbane Lions NSW scholarship holder Richard Newell has been cleared to represent the Australia Post Queensland Scorpions in the 2011 NAB Australian U18 Championships.
The 18-year-old utility player, a regular with the Lions Reserves in the NEAFL this season and training with the Scorpions over the last fortnight, was given the go-ahead by the Lions and AFL NSW.
He was included today in a 24-man Scorpions squad for their opening game of the championships against South Australia at Blacktown Olympic Park in Sydney on Saturday.
The Scorpions will be coming off an encouraging performance against the Calder Cannons in their final warm-up match three weeks ago, and are primed for a good showing against the division one heavyweights.
Newell’s selection comes after he won the Round 4 nomination for the NAB NEAFL Rising Star Award (Northern Conference).
A NAB Auskick product from age six, he played junior football with the Newtown Swans and later showed his unquestioned potential with the East Sydney Bulldogs in the Sydney Football League.
Signed by the Lions as a 15-year-old in August 2008, he is a fine all-round athlete, having also placed in national junior athletics competitions over 800m and 1500m, and played school basketball for Cranbrook Secondary School.
Relocated to Brisbane over the summer, Newell hasn’t missed a game with the Lions after an an injury-disrupted 2010 season in which he played three games with Greater Western Sydney in the TAC Cup competition.
Morningside’s Jackson Allen, the Scorpions vice-captain who has been fighting a calf problem in recent weeks, was also included in a travel party that will head south tomorrow (Friday).
Aspley’s Aaron Laskey, who missed the final warm-up game against the Calder Cannons through illness, also returns along with clubmate Jack James, who was rested.
Not available for selection due to injury were Morningside’s Josh Smith and Aspley’s Spencer Greville.
Among other squad members, Southport’s Mitch Hopkins and Broadbeach’s Tom Davidson will play for the Gold Coast Suns Reserves against Greater Western Sydney in the NEAFL at Blacktown on Saturday.
Available for their clubs this weekend are Aspley’s Shaun Crook and Sam Panoho, Sandgate’s Luke Reynolds, Mt.Gravatt’s Craig Malone and Morningside’s Michael Wyld.
The Scorpions travel party in jumper number order is:-
2 Lachlan RUSS (Morningside)
4 Adam OXLEY (Redland)
6 Jackson ROLFE (Broadbeach)
7 Brian COLEMAN-BROOME (Morningside)
8 Dalton TUCKER (Southport – captain)
9 Henry JOYCE (Morningside)
10 Josh WAGNER (Aspley)
11 Jackson ALLEN (Morningside)
12 Aaron LASKEY (Aspley)
13 Chris MURPHY (Mt Gravatt)
14 Luke CHITTY (Morningside)
15 Alex SEXTON (Redland)
18 Clay CAMERON (Mt Gravatt)
19 Fraser THOMPSON (Aspley)
23 Peter YAGMOOR (Morningside)
24 Fraser THURLOW (Southport)
25 Sam MICHAEL (Redland)
26 Sam CABRERA (Aspley)
27 Josh KOLKA (Broadbeach)
28 Andrew BOSTON (Broadbeach)
30 Jackson STARCEVICH (Morningside)
32 Jack JAMES (Aspley)
34 Richard NEWELL (Lions Scholarship)
36 Tom FIELDS (Labrador)
