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.<\/p>\n
Since 2012, more than 60 players have reached either the AFL or AFLW after developing their craft in the Lions Academy.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Meet all the players of the under-16 boys team below.<\/p>\n
Samuel Kernick (Wilston Grange)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Koda Airdrie (Noosa)<\/p>\n
Airdrie is a classy small forward with a knack for finding a breakthrough goal.<\/p>\n
He has clean hands and a strong goal sense. .<\/p>\n
Craig Kellerman (Coorparoo)<\/p>\n
A hybrid forward or midfield option who boasts excellent skills by hand and foot. <\/p>\n
He thrives taking on local rivals Gold Coast with a solid 14 disposal, two-tackle game in the Academy QClash earlier in the season.<\/p>\n
Jake Gibbons (Coorparoo)<\/p>\n
A physical inside midfielder who has good ability to drive his legs and take the ball out the front of stoppages.<\/p>\n
Fletcher Nelson (Morningside)<\/p>\n
A bottom-age wingman who uses the ball creatively and with good composure.<\/p>\n
Finn O\u2019Brien (Kedron)<\/p>\n
O\u2019Brien is a capable small forward but can also be a handy pinch-hitter in defence as well.<\/p>\n
He showed his class in the backline against the Suns with 17 disposals, four tackles and a goal as a driving halfback.<\/p>\n
Harry McKenzie (Maroochydore)<\/p>\n
A winger with great aerobic capacity, McKenzie\u2019s pressure and rebound out of defence was a highlight when the Lions were under siege against the Suns.<\/p>\n
Angus Bryson (Aspley)<\/p>\n
The Lions\u2019 vice-captain can play as a tall or small defender.<\/p>\n
He competes well in one-on-ones while bringing plenty of pressure with his tackling game.<\/p>\n
Bryson reads the flight of the ball in the air well and is an intercepting hawk at the back.<\/p>\n
Sebastian Kleinschmidt (Maroochydore)<\/p>\n
Kleinschmidt is a handy utility player who always puts in a shift for the team.<\/p>\n
He can play several different roles and is a strong and powerful presence with neat ball skills.<\/p>\n
Joel Mwaredaga (Sandgate)<\/p>\n
Mwaredaga is a Nauruan prospect who has been superb for the Aspley Colts this<\/p>\n
season. <\/p>\n
Primarily deployed as a midfielder\/forward hybrid, the Lions gun brings plenty of strength and power to his game.<\/p>\n
He is agile around the contest and links up with his teammates well.<\/p>\n
Finn Jones (Kenmore)<\/p>\n
An athletic wingman who makes good decisions with the ball by hand and foot.<\/p>\n
Harley Wolbers (Morningside)<\/p>\n
A speedy inside midfielder who attacks the ball ferociously and provides damaging run and carry through the corridor.<\/p>\n
Tyler Hutchinson (Noosa)<\/p>\n
The type of midfielder who is needed on every team.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Xavier Salvana (Coorparoo)<\/p>\n
One of the Lions\u2019 best players, Salvana is a classy goalkicking midfielder.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Fergus Costello (Wilston Grange)<\/p>\n
Costello is an athletic halfback who competes well in the air and provides plenty of rebound.<\/p>\n
Cruz Hartwell (Maroochydore)<\/p>\n
Another tall outside running midfielder who uses his endurance to provide important aerial support to the Lions\u2019 defenders. <\/p>\n
Along with his defensive support, he is a neat player to find teammates on the lead with a deadeye boot in his locker.<\/p>\n
Finn Dunstan (South Melbourne Districts)<\/p>\n
Dunstan is an industrious midfielder who gets the ball from the inside to the outside and is a trusted inside 50 kick.<\/p>\n
Darcy Coleman (Aspley)<\/p>\n
A medium sized utility who is strong in defence or in attack.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Used at either end of the ground, Coleman is strong in one-on-one contests and a good user by foot.<\/p>\n
Max Bush (Morningside)<\/p>\n
A skilful left-footer who is a go-to rebounder for the Lions out of defence.<\/p>\n
Jake Gillespie (Noosa)<\/p>\n
A strong runner who plays as a high half-forward and provides a great contest in the air when he pushes back towards goal.<\/p>\n
Edward Waters (Morningside)<\/p>\n
A bottom-age defender who is strong against tall and small opponents and hates to be beaten.<\/p>\n
Charlie Allan (Wilston Grange)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Darcy Pearson (Redland Victoria Point)<\/p>\n
The captain of the academy side, Pearson is a strong-bodied defender with excellent aerial ability and good foot skills. <\/p>\n
His standout leadership qualities haven\u2019t gone unnoticed as he was named in the All Australian side off the back of a strong U16 AFL National Carnival.<\/p>\n
Leo Ellemor (Wilston Grange)<\/p>\n
Ellemor is a key defender who is strong in the air and follows up well at ground level.<\/p>\n
William Stigter (Wilston Grange)<\/p>\n
The Wilston Grange prospect is a handy ruck who has shown impressive craft of late.<\/p>\n
Benjamin Landers (Coorparoo)<\/p>\n
The Lions\u2019 No. 1 ruck option, Landers is a promising tall who regularly gives his midfielders first use of the footy.<\/p>\n
He follows up well at ground level and is a solid marking target around the ground. <\/p>\n
Solomon Hoiles (Coorparoo)<\/p>\n
Hoiles is an exciting prospect who could be the next star forward to wear maroon, blue and gold.<\/p>\n
He is a strong, tall target up forward and can pinch-hit with relief ruckwork as well.<\/p>\n
Ryan Hutchings (Wilston Grange)<\/p>\n
A classy defender or midfielder who like former Lion Daniel Rich, has a booming left-foot in his arsenal.<\/p>\n
Hutchings is strong in the air and competes well with an impressive vertical leap.<\/p>\n
Jude Bannister (Maroochydore)<\/p>\n
A key forward who competes very well in the air and on the ground, halving contests if he is unable to win the ball. <\/p>\n
Bannister has good skills for a player of his size.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From Harris Andrews, to Eric Hipwood and Bruce Reville, the Brisbane Lions Academy has helped forge several 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