Queensland draft prospect and Brisbane Lions Academy member Ben Keays has been awarded the Round 4 NEAFL Rising Star nomination after a standout performance against Gold Coast.
Despite being on the receiving end of a 25-point loss, Keays was named best-on-ground for the Lions, collecting 23 disposals – the most of any Brisbane player – in their match against the Suns at Metricon Stadium.
The 18-year-old midfielder made his mark last year when he was named on the interchange bench in the 2014 Under-18 All-Australian team despite not being eligible for the AFL Draft until this year.
Lions Academy Manager, Luke Curran, said Keays’ natural competitiveness and passion for the game has contributed to his rapid rise up the ranks.
“He doesn’t know any other way but to go 100 per cent. He works hard on his game and is getting great reward,” he said.
“He transitions from the Under-18s through the Academy and our NEAFL side really well.
“Ben has played some good footy the last three years and each year he has stepped it up and gotten fitter, and he is working harder than ever."
Originally a Morningside junior, Keays won the Queensland MVP Award at the National Under-16 Championships and has split his NEAFL career between Redland (six games) and Brisbane (six) over the past two seasons.
Keays will develop through the QLD Under-18s, Lions Academy and NEAFL programs this year as he continues to emerge as one of the competition’s brightest young talents.
“Through the Academy we are wanting to add the finishing touches to his game this year with his disposal efficiency and running patterns, and making his strengths really stand out,” Curran said.
“He is a terrific competitor and we don’t want him to lose that.”
The Rising Star is awarded to the most promising young talent in the NEAFL competition. Nominees must be under the age of 21 and played less than 20 games.
