The AFL Players’ induction camp held in Melbourne earlier this week, not only proved a valuable exercise in helping prepare all first-year players for life as a professional athlete, but also gave them an opportunity to catch-up with some familiar faces.

Many of the 122 draftees who attended the annual event would have known a healthy percentage of those in attendance, having likely played either with, or against, each other at some stage throughout their junior days.

Brisbane Lions Rookie Cian Hanley was one of the few exceptions, considering he only recently arrived in Australia late last year after turning his back on a potential Gaelic career in Ireland.

Hanley did, however, had some other fellow international recruits to relate with from other clubs, including fellow Irishmen Conor McKenna (Essendon), Paddy Brophy (West Coast), Sean Hurley (Fremantle), and Padraig Lucey (Geelong), as well as 211cm USA import Mason Cox (Collingwood).

Hugh Beasley, meanwhile, was one of many former Oakleigh Chargers products who attended the two-day camp, and enjoyed the opportunity to share stories with his former TAC Cup premiership teammates for the first time since he was taken in the Rookie Draft.

“I think there were around eight Oakliegh boys that got drafted, so it was good catching up with them,” Beasley told lions.com.au.

“We have some pretty good memories here at Etihad Stadium, where we won the (TAC Cup) premiership.

“I’m the only one that went interstate, so it’s good to get back and hear different stories about how training is going for the other boys.”

It was a different story for Josh Watts, who was one of only two Tasmanians to be selected at the National Draft, the other being Josh McGuinness, who also landed at the Lions.  

“There were only two Tassie boys drafted and we both came up to Brisbane, so I don’t really know anybody else,” Watts said.

“I do know a few of the boys from the Allies team, so it’s good to catch up with them. It’s good to touch base with other guys and see how they’re going with it all.”