Daniel Merrett, Dayne Zorko, Ben Hudson, Andrew Raines and Josh Drummond were among the 22 players honoured during Monday night’s NEAFL Grogan Medal awards ceremony in Brisbane.
Both Merrett and Drummond were both named for the sixth consecutive time, making them part of an exclusive group of players to have earned selection every season since the Team of the Year was introduced back in 2007.
Raines and Hudson were also selected having previously been named with their former clubs, while Zorko was one of three first-time inclusions to the side.
Claye Beams (who was named in the 2011 Team of the Year) was probably the Lions’ most notable absentee, considering the 22 year-old enjoyed a career-best season in 2012 and earned an AFL Rising Star Nomination.
The full 2012 Queensland Team of the Year is below:
B: Lee Spurr (Frem), Daniel Merrett (BL), Sam Gilbert (St.K)
HB: Courtenay Dempsey (Ess), Charlie Dixon (GC), Jarrod Harbrow (GC)
C: Rohan Bail (Melb), David Armitage (St.K), Brendan Whitecross (Haw)
HF: Tom Bell (Carl), Nick Riewoldt (St.K - capt), Karmichael Hunt (GC)
F: Dayne Zorko (BL), Kurt Tippett (Adel), David Hale (Haw)
R: Ben Hudson (BL), Dayne Beams (Coll), Andrew Raines (BL)
INT: Luke McGuane (Rich), Lachlan Keeffe (Coll), Joel Macdonald (Melb), Josh Drummond (BL)
Meanwhile, three Lions players - Cheynee Stiller, James Hawkley and Stephen Wrigley - were honoured with selection in the 2012 NEAFL Northern Conference Team of the Year.
It’s no surprise to see experienced AFL campaigners Stiller and Hawksley named in the side, considering both have been instrumental in helping the Lions Reserves reach their first State League Grand Final in 11 years.
Wrigley has also enjoyed another stellar season since joining the Club from Labrador last year, earning his third straight NEAFL Team of the Year appearance.
He also represented Queensland for the first time earlier this year, and made his senior AFL debut for the Lions in Round 18.
The NEAFL minor premiers NT Thunder - who will also face the Lions in this Sunday’s Grand Final - supplied most of the Team of the Year’s spine, which further asserted their strength in the competition.
Former Lions rookie Jason Roe (full back), Jake Dignan (centre) and Darren Ewing (full forward) were all picked in critical positions, while Matt Rosier earned a spot on the interchange bench.
The full 2012 NEAFL Northern Conference Team of the Year is below:
B: Danny Wise (Sp - capt), Jason Roe (NT), Steve Wrigley (BL)
HB: Todd Grayson (Lab), Wayde Mills (Sp), Adam Oxley (Red)
C: James Hawksley (BL), Jake Dignan (NT), Cheynee Stiller (BL)
HF: Matthew Payne (Asp), Scott Clouston (Red), Josh Baxter (Sp)
F: Gavin Grose (MtG), Darren Ewing (NT), Sam Faure (Ms)
R: Dylan Reid (Asp), Andrew McQualter (GCS), Jason Burge (Sp)
INT: Ryan Davey (Lab), Brad Rees (Red), Phil Carse (Red), Matt Rosier (NT), Ryan Pantic (Bb)
