BRISBANE Lions Academy got their 2024 Under 16 National Championships off to a strong start, defeating the Gold Coast Suns Academy by 22 points at Brighton Homes Arena on Sunday afternoon.

A late surge in the first quarter gave the Lions some breathing space, which they came in handy as fatigue set in.

The Suns closed the gap to level the scores late in the third, but the Lions broke away in the final quarter keeping the Suns goalless.

GOLD COAST 1.1 | 4.2 | 7.4 | 7.7 (49)
BRISBANE 4.3 | 6.4 | 7.5 | 10.11 (71)

GOALS:
GC: T. Murray, L. Kaesler, S. Murray, J. Wenzel, K. Wallace, B. Tissington, T. Johnson
BL: N. Cameron 3, H. McPherson 2, B. Williams 2, A. Watts, O. Tanks, M. Owen

BEST:
GC: T. Murray, I. Mayne, E. Welsh, T. Lockwood, A. Hill,
BL: O. Tanks, H. McPherson, J. Moss, C. Hodge, C. Murray

GOLD COAST SUNS:

#7 Leroy Kaesler (Burleigh)
Midfielder | 175cm | 19/12/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 3 tackles, 1 goal

Kaesler worked hard to have his moments, periodically popping up with his work rate to provide a loose option inside 50 or receive the ball on the outside in the transition. He was aggressive ball-in-hand, and had the ability to burst through a loose ball contest, come out the other end, and move the ball forward with pace. Kaesler was understanding of his poisoning and was tactically one of the strongest for the Suns.

#9 Elijah Welsh (Burleigh)
Midfielder | 178cm | 01/04/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Welsh executed his role on the outside of stoppages proficiently all day, and he was up for the task of challenging his direct opponent with how well he moved. He was able to read the ball out of the ruck contests quite well and ran hard to create space in front of him if the ball landed to him. At times his disposal was a little rushed, caught up in the pace he was going at, but otherwise showed his effectiveness around the stoppages.

#17 Taj Murray (Burleigh)
Midfielder | 181cm | 09/02/2009

Stats: 21 disposals, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal

Murray has a lot of likeable traits as a taller midfielder with the running capacity to cover the ground. He was clean below his knees and found no trouble giving off clean handballs to running midfielders who had space in front of them. Murray was quick out of defensive 50, always looking ahead of the play to make quick decisions in transition. There were moments of off-ball efforts and silkiness, selling candy in the corridor, and late in the contest, winning a one-on-two marking contest inside 50, quickly snapping to add a goal to his final tally.

#18 Archie Hill (Broadbeach)
Defender | 182cm | 04/03/2008

Stats: 32 disposals, 9 inside 50s, 8 rebound 50s

Hill was able to maintain his productivity for the Suns when momentum was against them, pushing high up the ground to use his long kick as an escape route under pressure. He was tasked with most of the kickouts and he was often able to take the game on with an aggressive kick up the middle. His general work rate up and down the ground helped keep the Suns in the contest.

#24 Isaac Mayne (Ormeau)
Defender | 186cm | 12/02/2008

Stats: 24 disposals, 3 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

Mayne worked himself into the game, predominantly in the second half with his running patterns between the arcs. He presented well outside of the contests and had a terrific sidestep to his game that came out twice to contort his body around an aggressive opponent. There were moments of speed out of defensive 50 which he capitalised on with the space he created.

#31 Ty Lockwood (Tweed Coast)
Ruck | 195cm | 25/09/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 21 hitouts, 3 inside 50s

The Suns’ ruckman was dominant across four quarters, finding ease in creating effective taps to his moving midfielders at the centre stoppages. Lockwood was dynamic around the ground, unafraid to utilise his strength and power to break through packs, which are still a work in progress. He was able to set up a goal in the first quarter with a crafty handball over the top to the goalsquare under pressure.

BRISBANE:

#4 Oscar Tanks (Morningside)
Midfielder | 174cm | 02/02/2007

Stats: 23 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

One of the Lions most prolific ball winners in the first half, Tanks came out with purpose, committing to hard ball gets, utilising his strength and frame around the contests. He was typically clean with his ball use by hand and was a force to get a hold of when tackled, manoeuvring well to get the ball out. Tanks’ decision making was well calculated, setting up forwards with nice entry kicks, as well as making space of his own inside 50. His day was topped off with a goal rewarded for his movement inside 50.

#7 Matthew Owen (Victoria Point)
Midfielder | 178cm | 01/03/2008

Stats: 37 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

Owen was the stabiliser in the stoppages for Brisbane, always calm with his approach to attack the footy and provide a physical presence in moving transition. His running capacity was prominent and he timed his runs well to offer as an outlet on the outside, accumulating the footy with reasoned moments as the ball moved down the line. He was impactful moving deep inside forward 50, able to create space and lose his direct opponent, kicking a goal of his own early in the piece.

#10 Cooper Hodge (Morningside)
Defender | 179cm | 26/07/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 6 rebound 50s, 1 inside 50

The Hodge name involves good toughness in character, and Cooper was able to provide that for the Lions off half-back with his intercepting presence. There was a particular punch to his kicks, and whilst he was able to come off 50 and impact in transition, most kicks led to marking packs where the ball went to ground. Hodge was able to showcase a bit of speed through the corridor, enjoying the one-two handball to burst through the middle in transition. There were glimpses of a strong intercept defender in the making, with still a lot of room for expanding his skill set.

#12 Jared Moss (Kawana)
Defender | 181cm | 10/01/2007

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 tackles, 2 rebound 50s

Moss had dash and noticeability with his moving patterns in the defensive half, always prepared to follow up on a mistake of his own or a teammate’s. He was able to provide some run on the outside of defensive contests, attack the footy when needed, and at times push further up the ground to take an intercept mark. His disposal let him down at times, although certainly didn’t stop his intent.

#15 Hamish McPherson (Aspley)
Midfielder/Forward | 183cm | 16/04/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals

Impact-per-possession summarises McPherson’s game to a t, making every moment count with the football in hand. The first half was characterised by his strength and tenacity at the football, and at times almost too tenacious with handballs that put his teammates under a bit of pressure, but still the right idea. His movement inside 50 was creative and put him in good space, kicking one goal from a set shot. He was unselfish setting up his teammate’s for shots at goal and snapped a great goal on the run to open the fourth quarter, followed up minutes later by a desperate chase-down tackle that was unlucky to not win a free kick.

#16 Caylen Murray (Maroochydore)
Midfielder | 183cm | 03/01/2008

Stats: 30 disposals, 5 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Murray was swift in and around the contest, a smooth mover with the footy, quick by hand, and demonstrating a lot of fundamental inside midfielder traits. He was able to show moments of poise and crafty decision-making, in one instance, tapping the ball over his opponent’s head to keep the ball moving, able to give off a handball to advantage straight after. Murray was a hard worker, working both ways, and had flare to his running, understanding when to take his moments.

#17 Baelin Phillips (Victoria Point)
Defender | 183cm | 07/02/2008

Stats: 30 disposals, 6 marks, 2 rebound 50s

Phillips showed some good glimpses through each quarter and built into the game nicely. There was little rush with his disposal, utilising his swift evasiveness under pressure to bounce around opponents. Phillips was able to push further up the ground and make use of his athleticism with an intercept mark, adding to his moments in the game.