The Brisbane Lions Academy U18 boys and U16 girls will take to Brighton Homes Arena for the first time in 2024 on Saturday, both tackling the Sydney Swans Academy. 

The Lions U18 boys began there 2024 season on Saturday, travelling to Blacktown to take on the GWS Giants Academy. 

Following a gruelling pre-season which started way back in November last year, the Lions boys kicked off the year in style recording an 87-point win. 

The U18 boys' side will now play against fellow northern academies Sydney on Saturday followed by the Gold Coast SUNS on April 21. 

The Lions U16 girls team suffered a heartbreaking loss to Vic Country in their first outing of the year going down in extra time. 

A three-week series beginning on Saturday has Academy Boys Head Coach, Mitch Hahn full of expectation for his young Lions. 

“It has been a really productive preseason for our boys and we have some high expectations for our improvement in 2024,” Hahn said. 

“After a break over the Christmas period the group came back really strong and played practice games against QAFL clubs, Morningside, Sherwood and Mt Gravatt. 

“The group went down to Tallebudgera for a pre-season camp and were able to experience a day in the life of an AFL player and spoke to a few key people including Club legend Jonathon Brown.” 

A key personnel change to the Lions Academy this year saw AFLW High Performance manager, Matt Green, take on the same role but in the Academy space with some positive results. 

“In January the group really focussed on fitness and skills and since Greeny (Matt Green) has come on and taken it to a whole new level,” Hahn explained. 

“We’ve now got the opportunity to put that into practice over the next three weeks and then looking forward to our four Coates Talent League games as well.” 

During the AFL Bye in Round 2, Co-Captain Harris Andrews and young gun, Jaspa Fletcher present 36 players with their jumpers ahead of the season. 

Get down to Brighton Homes Arena on Saturday for a Lions Academy double header kicking off with the U18 boys from 12:30pm, following by the U16 girls from 3pm.