BRISBANE Lions Academy is one of the most exciting teams to watch for next season with a ridiculous stack of bottom-agers – and even double bottom-agers – who will press their cases to reach the next level. The Lions started strong in the Coates Talent League Girls competition with a pair of wins, before going down to the league’s reigning grand finalists.

RESULTS:

Round 3: def. Geelong Falcons by 57 points
Round 4: def. Tasmania Devils by 10 points
Round 5: lost to Eastern Ranges by 20 points
Round 6: lost to Oakleigh Chargers by 42 points

STANDOUTS

Molly Ferguson
Midfielder | 165cm | 20/04/2008

Ferguson is a slick inside midfielder who represented Queensland as a double bottom-ager last year but predominantly played forward. Now getting more responsibility through the middle, she racked up more touches than any other player and was arguably the most consistent across the four games. Ferguson averaged 22.5 disposals, 4.0 marks, 5.5 tackles, 4.3 clearances and 2.5 inside 50s. A first or second possession winner.

Harlee McIlwain
Key Forward | 176cm | 07/04/2008

An ultra exciting prospect for next year and one of the best talls in the 2026 AFLW Draft crop, McIlwain is a strong aerial player, but is an elite ground level pressure player too. McIlwain burst onto the scene with a haul of 10 goals at the Under 16s Development Championships in a game the year before, and like Ferguson got her chance to represent her state at Under 18s level. With another preseason behind her she was a gamechanger, averaging 12.8 disposals, 3.5 marks, booted nine goals and laid an enormous eight tackles per game.

Mia Geere
Midfielder/Forward | 170cm | 08/04/2008

The smooth-moving Geere is more than capable in the air and can play as a forward with a raking kick, but she can go into the middle and win clearances too when given the chance. Her game on the outside is so valuable she was mostly utilised as a facilitator to go inside 50, averaging 15.7 disposals, 3.3 marks, 4.0 tackles, 2.0 clearances and 3.7 inside 50s. She also kicked two goals in her three games with the Lions Academy. A third player who represented Queensland as a double bottom-ager last year.

Jemma Foley
Defender | 166cm | 28/11/2007

The most impressive top-ager, Foley was earmarked as one to watch by coach Emma Zielke in the preseason and she did not let her down throughout the Coates Talent League Girls competition. Foley is a rebounding defender who can also nullify a direct opponent, competing hard and reading the ball well in flight to intercept. She is not tall, but is fierce, laying an impressive 4.8 tackles to go with her 13.8 disposals and 2.0 marks. Lead her side with a huge 6.7 rebound 50s too, making a couple of Team of the Week’s along the way.

Ameleia Murray
Defender | 163cm | 13/09/2009

Few would have expected the talented Under 16s All-Australian to impact as immediately as she did, but the hard-running Murray’s footy IQ is off the charts. She reads the game so well from the back 50 and intercepted time and time again, often going up against bigger opponents. Though she is 163cm, Murray is one of those players who competes in the air like they are 170cm-plus, and averaged the most marks of the Lions academy players with 4.3. She also had the second most rebound 50s (4.3) with her 13.0 disposals and 3.8 tackles. Is a natural midfielder but that will come the next two seasons.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Monique Corrigan
Ruck | 187cm | 06/04/2007

Only got to see the Lions Academy’s top rated talent once, coming in for the final game against the Oakleigh Chargers. Corrigan is an imposing figure at 187cm and was too good for the Chargers’ rucks in game four, winning 23 hitouts and following up with eight tackles. Featured in the All Stars game as well back in April and will lead the Queensland ruck division at the national championships with a host of top-age Suns Academy members to palm it down too. Athletic and strong, a great combination.

Kaiya Hides
Wing/Midfielder | 166cm | 09/02/2006

After being unlucky to miss out last year, Hides certainly did her chances of a chance at AFLW level no harm, playing inside and outside of midfield across the carnival. She boasts explosive speed and loves to tackle, with her team-first mentality evident each time she goes out there. Around the ball she can feed it out to teammates but will also look for gaps to burst away, and is one of the best at run-down tackles, laying quite a number of them throughout the tournament.

INTO THE FUTURE

Edie Fraser
Forward | 174cm | 28/08/2009

It will be exciting to see the 2009-born Fraser at the National Championships after such an eye-catching Under 16s tournament which earned the smart forward an All-Australian spot. Fraser has elite footy IQ, is so crafty inside 50 and can kick goals off either side from just about anywhere. She was second only to McIlwain through the Coates Talent League Girls stint, finishing with seven majors from her 12.3 disposals and 2.8 marks. A really top-end talent for a couple of year’s time.

Stella Scott
Forward/Wing | 165cm | 19/12/2008

Goes about her business unassumingly around the ground is a player who makes her teammates look better. Often a player who just finds space so well, Scott is the linkup player to transition the ball from defence into offence. While rounding out her game with some polish, Scott is clearly versatile enough to suit up in a number of roles. She averaged 16.3 disposals, laid 3.5 tackles per game and won a mix of inside and outside ball. Will likely be suited to the latter, but just pops up time and time again.

Freya Ross
Forward/Midfielder | 169cm | 04/11/2008

Ross is an exciting talent with plenty of upside and the capability to do the incredible. She is strong above her head, competes at ground level and sets up teammates with either thumping kicks forward or quick hands out of the stoppage. Ross ticks a lot of boxes with her draft profile and her offensive and defensive balance is terrific. She averaged 12.5 disposals, 2.3 marks, 2.0 clearances, 3.0 inside 50s and laid 6.8 tackles per game. One of a number of bottom-agers who are not too far shy of being a double bottom-ager.

Aiyana Pritchard
Forward | 175cm | 21/12/2008

Incredible raw but gee she has some talent. Pritchard plays on instinct and watching her you genuinely don’t know which trick she will pull out next. Pritchard only kicked the two goals playing half-forward, but had far more impact up the ground, averaging almost four inside 50s per game with 11.5 disposals and 2.8 marks. Ultra athletic with explosive speed, the 175cm talent is still developing her fundamentals – such as her bouncing and polish with her disposals – but when that comes, she’s going to be a massive problem for opposition defenders.

SUMMARY

Brisbane Lions Academy knew coming into this year that the side will embark on a golden era the next two seasons, thus most of the top-end talent coming in the 2026 and 2027 AFLW Drafts. Both Corrigan and Foley have made their mark for AFLW recruiters to take a look at closer through the upcoming national championships, with ruck Niamh McCarthy the third top-ager to make the Maroons’ team. That means along with Hides and Isabella McDonough as over-agers, there are 10 players yet to be eligible for the draft from the Lions contingent.