The Hyundai Help Lions Academy were dealt their first loss of the AFL Academy Series, beaten comfortably by Tasmania in Round 3 of the competition at Redland on Saturday.

The Lions’ U18s had won their opening two rounds of the series against Gold Coast and the Sydney Swans before taking on Tasmania – the initial match rescheduled after the game was washed out with Cyclone Debbie a few weeks ago.

Academy Manager Luke Curran said the loss was disappointing given the side had won their opening two rounds.

“It’s fair to say the first half was disappointing with both lack of effort and inability to perform roles required by our coaching group,” said Curran.

“After some stern words and direct feedback at half time along with some positional changes, the boys came out in the 3rd quarter and looked like a completely different team, before old habits crept back in the last term.”

The Lions Academy will travel to Sydney this coming weekend to do battle with the Swans Academy.

Meanwhile, the first ever AFL Northern Academy Girls Carnival was held from Friday – Sunday in Coffs Harbour.

Teams from the Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast SUNS, Sydney Swans and GWS Giants competed, with the carnival forming part of the selection process for the QLD U18 Girls Squad. 

The Lions’ Academy U18s came home undefeated, with the weekend capped off by a stirring come from behind win over the SUNS in Game 2.

The Lions girls kicked three straight goals to nil in the final quarter to get over the line by 2 points.

As a result of the carnival, a number of girls will be selected in the QLD U18 team to be announced later today by AFLQ for the national champs in May and July.

U18 Boys

Lions U18s: 11.12.78 def by TAS 15.12.102

Goals: Jack Clayton 2, Bailey Lambert 2, Tyler Hausfeld 2, Connor Ballenden 1, Jack Tomkinson 1, Caleb Franks 1, Reid Gordon 1, Ben Sloan 1

Better Players: Jack Payne, Connor Ballenden, Jack Tomkinson, Ben Sloan

U18 Girls

Game 1: Lions 6.10.46 def. Swans 0.0.0

Goals: Tarni White 2, Chloe MacDonald 1, Zimmi Farquharson 1, Eliza Angus 1, Lily Postlethwaite 1
Better Players: Shania Jones, Tarni White, Zimmi Farquharson, Belle Dawes, Natalie Grider , Teanna Fuji

Game 2: Lions 3.5.23 def. Suns  3.3.22

Goals: Zimmi Farquharson 1, Jemma Abbott 1, Teanna Fuji 1

Better Players: Tahlia Hickie, Brooke Randall, Natalie Grider, Zimmi Farquharson, Alanna Perry, Gabby Collingwood

Game 3: Lions 3.5.23 to Giants 0.0.0

Goals: Eliza Angus 1, Tayla Gesch 1, Tahlia Hickie 1

Better Players: Tammie Stower, Eliza Angus, Tarnie White, Tiffany Dale, Tayla Gesch, Brianna Howell