From Harris Andrews, to Eric Hipwood and Bruce Reville, the Brisbane Lions Academy has helped forge several up and coming stars in the Sunshine State to reach the AFL.
Since 2012, more than 60 players have reached either the AFL or AFLW after developing their craft in the Lions Academy.
In the second of a four-part series, we are shining a light on the next generation of Brisbane Lions stars who are making their mark in the academy.
Meet all the players of the under-16 boys team below.
Samuel Kernick (Wilston Grange)
A bottom-age player, Kernick is a small forward who gets into good crumbing positions at the front of packs and boasts excellent finishing skills.
Koda Airdrie (Noosa)
Airdrie is a classy small forward with a knack for finding a breakthrough goal.
He has clean hands and a strong goal sense. .
Craig Kellerman (Coorparoo)
A hybrid forward or midfield option who boasts excellent skills by hand and foot.
He thrives taking on local rivals Gold Coast with a solid 14 disposal, two-tackle game in the Academy QClash earlier in the season.
Jake Gibbons (Coorparoo)
A physical inside midfielder who has good ability to drive his legs and take the ball out the front of stoppages.
Fletcher Nelson (Morningside)
A bottom-age wingman who uses the ball creatively and with good composure.
Finn O’Brien (Kedron)
O’Brien is a capable small forward but can also be a handy pinch-hitter in defence as well.
He showed his class in the backline against the Suns with 17 disposals, four tackles and a goal as a driving halfback.
Harry McKenzie (Maroochydore)
A winger with great aerobic capacity, McKenzie’s pressure and rebound out of defence was a highlight when the Lions were under siege against the Suns.
Angus Bryson (Aspley)
The Lions’ vice-captain can play as a tall or small defender.
He competes well in one-on-ones while bringing plenty of pressure with his tackling game.
Bryson reads the flight of the ball in the air well and is an intercepting hawk at the back.
Sebastian Kleinschmidt (Maroochydore)
Kleinschmidt is a handy utility player who always puts in a shift for the team.
He can play several different roles and is a strong and powerful presence with neat ball skills.
Joel Mwaredaga (Sandgate)
Mwaredaga is a Nauruan prospect who has been superb for the Aspley Colts this
season.
Primarily deployed as a midfielder/forward hybrid, the Lions gun brings plenty of strength and power to his game.
He is agile around the contest and links up with his teammates well.
Finn Jones (Kenmore)
An athletic wingman who makes good decisions with the ball by hand and foot.
Harley Wolbers (Morningside)
A speedy inside midfielder who attacks the ball ferociously and provides damaging run and carry through the corridor.
Tyler Hutchinson (Noosa)
The type of midfielder who is needed on every team.
Hutchinson is a tackling machine on the inside who battles hard for the ball around the contest and consistently finds ways to feed it out to teammates on the outside.
Xavier Salvana (Coorparoo)
One of the Lions’ best players, Salvana is a classy goalkicking midfielder.
His 2026 campaign has been interrupted by injury but he showed his class in the Talent League with two goals against Gippsland Power in May.
Fergus Costello (Wilston Grange)
Costello is an athletic halfback who competes well in the air and provides plenty of rebound.
Cruz Hartwell (Maroochydore)
Another tall outside running midfielder who uses his endurance to provide important aerial support to the Lions’ defenders.
Along with his defensive support, he is a neat player to find teammates on the lead with a deadeye boot in his locker.
Finn Dunstan (South Melbourne Districts)
Dunstan is an industrious midfielder who gets the ball from the inside to the outside and is a trusted inside 50 kick.
Darcy Coleman (Aspley)
A medium sized utility who is strong in defence or in attack.
No matter which end of the field he is deployed, Coleman battles hard in the one-on-one contests and creates solid opportunities by foot.
Used at either end of the ground, Coleman is strong in one-on-one contests and a good user by foot.
Max Bush (Morningside)
A skilful left-footer who is a go-to rebounder for the Lions out of defence.
Jake Gillespie (Noosa)
A strong runner who plays as a high half-forward and provides a great contest in the air when he pushes back towards goal.
Edward Waters (Morningside)
A bottom-age defender who is strong against tall and small opponents and hates to be beaten.
Charlie Allan (Wilston Grange)
Another forward who has been thrown into defence with success, Allan is very strong in the air and makes good decisions about whether to mark or spoil.
Darcy Pearson (Redland Victoria Point)
The captain of the academy side, Pearson is a strong-bodied defender with excellent aerial ability and good foot skills.
His standout leadership qualities haven’t gone unnoticed as he was named in the All Australian side off the back of a strong U16 AFL National Carnival.
Leo Ellemor (Wilston Grange)
Ellemor is a key defender who is strong in the air and follows up well at ground level.
William Stigter (Wilston Grange)
The Wilston Grange prospect is a handy ruck who has shown impressive craft of late.
Benjamin Landers (Coorparoo)
The Lions’ No. 1 ruck option, Landers is a promising tall who regularly gives his midfielders first use of the footy.
He follows up well at ground level and is a solid marking target around the ground.
Solomon Hoiles (Coorparoo)
Hoiles is an exciting prospect who could be the next star forward to wear maroon, blue and gold.
He is a strong, tall target up forward and can pinch-hit with relief ruckwork as well.
Ryan Hutchings (Wilston Grange)
A classy defender or midfielder who like former Lion Daniel Rich, has a booming left-foot in his arsenal.
Hutchings is strong in the air and competes well with an impressive vertical leap.
Jude Bannister (Maroochydore)
A key forward who competes very well in the air and on the ground, halving contests if he is unable to win the ball.
Bannister has good skills for a player of his size.