THE BRIDGE family is seemingly made for the big stage. 2025 AFL Draft prospect Harrison has picked up several accolades en route to his top-age year, feats which are now being rivalled by 16-year-old brother, Jackson.

>> FREE TO ACCESS: Rookie Me Central’s 2025 AFL Draft Guide

While the more junior sibling was named Pool B MVP and All-Australian at this year’s Under 16 National Championships, his big brother sat out much of the season through injury. Ironically, it was one sustained at representative level, where both boys thrive.

“My brother and I step up on the biggest stage,” Bridge told Rookie Me Central. “I think secretly [our relationship] might be a little bit competitive, but really it’s not. We love each others’ successes… we’re both super proud of what we’ve been able to do.”

Big brother Harrison beat out a stellar cast – including pick one fancy Willem Duursma and fellow Lions Academy star Daniel Annable – to be named player of the series at the 2022 SSA Under 15 championships, which was backed by Under 16 All-Australian selection the following year.

Needless to say, he came into 2025 with plenty of shine, but not everything turned out to plan. Bridge’s year was somewhat of a microcosm of the Allies’ campaign – built on high potential but held back by injuries.

Still, the Victorian-born Queenslander quickly built a bridge, so to speak, after having his leg caught in an awkward tackle during the Allies’ first championship game.

“To be honest, it really didn’t affect me in a negative sense at all,” Bridge said. “From the moment the injury happened in the change rooms I said to my mum, because she was bawling in tears, that it’s a part of the game and it’s going to be okay.

“Straight away my mind was already looking to ‘I can’t control what’s happened, let’s control what I can control’, which was then working into my rehab. I think throughout the whole time I’ve been really positive and just ticking all the boxes.”

Bridge’s positive mindset saw him through surgery, six weeks in a moon boot, and 16 total weeks of rehab. What’s more, he had the backing of immense family support that has long propelled him towards achieving his ultimate goal.

“My family – my mum and dad, brother, sister – all of them have just been really good,” Bridge said. “Obviously when I was in a boot and early stages in a cast, I couldn’t do much, so I relied heavily on them and they’ve helped me through everything.”

Bridge made the move to his mother’s native Queensland in 2017 and linked up with the Lions Academy three years later. Now based in the Lockyer Valley, the sacrifices made to keep the budding draftee thriving in the footballing pathway have not been lost on him.

“It’s been massive,” Bridge said. “We live out in the Lockyer Valley, so from Springfield it’s an hour away. That alone is a massive commitment, and then to the north side of Brisbane it’s an hour and a half.

“My parents did everything working around their jobs just to make sure me, my brother and sister could get to where we need to go. That’s obviously really hard with three kids all playing sport and only two parents, so they’ve made a massive sacrifice putting all their eggs in the basket to help us.”

Another driving force in Bridge’s fledgling career has been the sudden passing of former teammate and close friend, Isaac Olver in 2023. A fellow Sherwood junior and Lions Academy member, Olver lost his life in a tragic accident, one which has spurred Bridge to make the most of every day.

“Obviously early stages it was a struggle,” Bridge said. “I found out the news while I was out playing golf and it struck me straight away. Losing a good friend is really hard and I think after that first initial period, it really just motivated me to try and carry on with something that I know he would’ve wanted me to do.

“Isaac was in the academy, I played all my football with him and I knew the only thing he ever wanted to do is play football. It really motivated me to work as hard as I can and to know that nothing is guaranteed. You have to put 100 percent in each day because tomorrow you could wake up and not be here.”

The notion of nothing being guaranteed is particularly pertinent in Bridge’s situation. After being ruled out for much of the year, he sits in somewhat of a draft limbo with “nothing set in stone” regarding his Brisbane Lions ties.

Bridge has been interviewed by about a half-dozen other clubs, interest which was evidenced by his nomination for the state draft combine in October. A Carlton supporter at heart, Bridge remains excited by the success of Brisbane’s academy graduates across consecutive premierships.

A dashing half-back who has also spent time on the wing, Bridge is renowned for his decision making and classy ball use. He has been working on his contested game, and despite missing so much footy this year, remains adamant his greater body of work has put him in good stead.

Bridge, and the remaining class of 2025 will find out their fate when the National AFL Draft gets underway on November 19. Night two of the draft follows, then comes the Rookie Draft on November 21.