QUEENSLAND talent is booming in 2025, and Brisbane Lions Academy member Isaac Waller is among the tall timbre hoping to impress. The top-ager has been taking tips from a range of AFL rucks, while also doing extras to build a strong rapport with the Lions’ talented midfield group.

We spoke to Waller at the weekend’s preseason testing event in Queensland.

>> Lions Academy: Preseason Q&A – Daniel Annable

PRESEASON Q&A

Q: Isaac, can you recall your first memories of football?

IW: It was probably down at the park in Melbourne with my grandparents. My ‘Pa always had a footy in my hand, so definitely then. It’s always been in me since I was young, through Auskick and all the way from the beginning.

Q: Did you used to live in Victoria as well?

IW: Nah, I just have a lot of family down in Victoria, so a big football background.

Q: How many years have you been with the Lions?

IW: Since I was 12, so fifth or sixth year now.

Q: Have you had any key mentors along the way?

IW: Definitely. One of the Lions coaches, ‘Gell’ (James Gellie), who’s really helped me with my marking and ruck craft. He’s based on the Sunshine Coast, so he’s been pretty key for me.

Q: How has your preseason been so far?

IW: Good, really good. No injury interruptions, so it’s been a good start to the preseason. I feel fit, feel stronger. Just keen to get into some games.

Q: What about the Allies camp?

IW: It was good to meet a few of the boys from all over Australia, have a little bit of a training camp, meet them and go over some goals for the year.

Q: What are some of your strengths?

IW: My aerial impact. I feel I can really crash a pack and take some contested marks, which not many people can do. Also my ruck craft, I really pride myself on how I can give my midfielders some good first use of the footy.

Q: How about the things you’re looking to improve on?

IW: Just to keep developing my marking craft and my forward craft as well. I hadn’t really played much forward until last year in the Coates League, so I’m just working on my leading patterns and getting the hang of that.

Q: What kind of split do you think you’ll have between the ruck and forward?

IW: I think a 70-30 ruck-forward [split], so not as much forward as last year but a bit more ruck time, which I’m happy about.

Q: How strong is your rapport with the Lions’ talented midfielders?

IW: It’s really good. I’ve played with most of them since Under 16s and got a good relationship with Dan Annable and stuff, so we’ve been doing a bit of stuff after training and pre-training to work on our connection. So, pretty excited to get to work with them in these preseason games.

Q: Are there any teammates you think we should look out for to have a big season?

IW: I reckon Caylen Murray. He’s come off Under 16 All-Australian last year. I think he’s going to have a really good year off half-back for our Coates League and our Academy campaign. Excited to play with him, and he’s another Maroochydore boy.

Q: Are you a Lions fan?

IW: Nah, I’m not a Lions fan. I don’t actually support anyone.

Q: Any reason for that?

IW: I’ve just always liked watching players. I’m not really connected to a team.

Q: Who do you like to watch?

IW: Tim English, Max Gawn, Jordan Sweet, big Sam Darcy. A lot of the ruckmen and even a few forwards as well, just to try and model my game on.

Q: What do you try and take from some of those players?

IW: Just little aspects of the game like how Max Gawn is able to impact, not just with his ruck craft, but also up forward as well. I try to play my own game style and be true to that, but also try to find little aspects of their technique or their running patterns.

Q: What are your goals for the year?

IW: To have a good successful Academy series and Coates League first and play some good footy there, hopefully get a few wins. Then hopefully I’ll play a fair few Allies games and really have a good campaign. Pretty simple, but just hoping to play some good consistent footy this year.