The Brisbane Lions Academy is up and running for another year with an action-packed schedule and multiple teams competing across the country.
The 2023 AFL National Development Championship - U16 Girls kicked off on Tuesday with the Lions Academy making a strong statement against the GWS Giants Academy.
The Lions ran out 108-point winners in their opening fixture at Bond University on the Gold Coast.
For the first time, the Championships is being played as an interstate carnival, with matches scheduled across four states.
The competition features 10 teams, who each play two matches. The teams compete in two pools.
Pool A features South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia. Pool B comprises Brisbane Lions Academy, Gold Coast SUNS Academy, GWS GIANTS Academy, Northern Territory, Sydney Swans Academy and Tasmania.
At the conclusion of the Championships each team will select their MVP, with an overall MVP and All Australian team to also be selected by a selection panel comprising AFL Talent Pathways staff and AFLW recruiters.
The Lions play their next fixture at Heritage Bank Stadium against the Northern Territory tomorrow afternoon, Friday April 14, at 12 noon.
The AFL National Championships and AFL National Development Championships are the highest level of state and territory representative football, as part of the AFL’s Talent Pathway Program, featuring the most talented footballers from across Australia.
Elsewhere, the Lions Academy Under 19 boys and Under 19 girls teams are competing in the national Coates Talent League.
Formerly the NAB League, the Coates Talent League is Australia’s premier underage football pathway competition for boys and girls in the eastern states with teams comprised mostly of under 18 players.
After three round the Lions boys are yet to register a win with tough losses against the Oakleigh Chargers and Dandenong Stingrays.
Match replays are available on the Coates Talent League app and at AFL On Demand.
This weekend will see the team travel to Punt Road to take on the Western Jets who are also looking for their first win of season 2023.
The Lions girls are yet to get their season underway and will play their first game against the Murray Bushrangers on Saturday May 20.
