Hyundai Help for Kids Lions Academy member Jack Clayton has earned the final NEAFL Rising Star nomination for the 2016 season after being among the Lions' best in their Round 18 loss to Aspley on Saturday.
A product of the Wests Juniors Football Club, Clayton was identified by the Hyundai Help for Kids Lions Academy in his early teens, and has been a Queensland representative every year since under-12s.
Clayton has earned Under-15 All-Australian schoolboys honours, and was most recently selected in the NAB AFL Academy squad for the second consecutive year.
Clayton’s sporting talent has also extended to cricket, where he was a member of the Australian Under-15 team before winning a National Under-17 Championship title with Queensland.
The 17-year-old has enjoyed a solid debut NEAFL season where the small defender has been named among Brisbane’s best players in three of his past four games.
Hyundai Help for Kids Lions Academy manager, Luke Curran, said Clayton is a unique talent with a bright future.
“His past month of football has been excellent,” he said.
“He has adapted to senior footy really well playing in our backline. He handles it like a senior veteran – his poise, composure, and decision making has all been terrific.”
Clayton joins fellow academy member Jack Rolls as Brisbane’s nominees this season.
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 senior games (excluding games as AFL top-up players) at the start of the 2016 season.
The winner will be announced at the NEAFL Awards ceremony on August 21.
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