Lions take out first Academy match

Brisbane’s tall timber stood up in the forward line, with Harris Andrews and Matthew Uerbergang finishing with five and four goals, respectively.

North Queensland bottom-ager, Cody Filewood, kicked four for the SUNS Academy, as their only multiple goal kicker.

Nate Dennis, a talented basketballer, kicked the first goal of the match and the Lions never looked back, sealing the win with a six-goal to three final quarter.

Dennis excited many with his two-goal performance, after only a limited time playing footy.

James Rayner, back in Queensland after a stint in West Australia, found plenty of the footy, classy defender, Liam Dawson, provided poise in the back half for the Lions, while Mayne’s Henry Leong displayed his signature hunger for the footy.

Adam Tipungwuti’s opponents were forced to eat his dust as the Tiwi Islander turned it on, including a spectacular goal in the second quarter.

For the Gold Coast, highly-touted teen, Lachie Weller, provided his own highlights, with a Gary Ablett-esque goal from the boundary.

Surfers Paradise’s Cassidy Haberfield was solid playing as an inside mid and half forward, while 202cm Townsville product, Braydon Preuss, was hard to miss.

Cairns’ Glendon Woossup kicked a goal playing as a half-forward, before being moved into the middle later in the game, along with Townsville’s Ryan Agita.

AFL Queensland High Performance Coach, Adrian Fletcher, said the game had given him plenty of selection headaches.

“I think everybody showed their wares, and that’s what we wanted to see,” he said.

Fletcher was impressed with the performances from a number of bottom-agers, including some of last year’s U16 representatives, doing their state team chances no harm.

“I was happy with what we saw today. It was tight for most of the day,” he said.

Best Players:
James Rayner, Nate Dennis, Harris Andrews, Matthew Uebergang, Corey Wagner,
Cameron Stevenson