Brisbane’s Hyundai Help for Kids Lions Academy stars headline the inclusions for Sunday’s crunch NEAFL clash with Sydney at Coorparoo.
Academy members and NEAFL Rising Star Nominees Eric Hipwood and Ben Keays – who was awarded the Hunter Harrison Medal at the recent National Under-18 Championships – headline a long list of inclusions after guiding Queensland to the Division 2 title last week.
The Lions dropped to last position on the ladder last week when they lost to NT Thunder by 48 points in Darwin and Eastlake drew with Ainslie.
Both sides have named extended squads due to their senior AFL sides clashing at the Gabba on Sunday.
Sydney will be keen to atone for a heavy loss against ladder leaders UWS Giants when they were smashed by 183 points last week to slip to fourth on the ladder.
Sydney University’s Jack Hiscox will make his debut for the Swans after nine games in the NEAFL this year, but they have added Craig Bird to the midfield.
BRISBANE
B: Hugh Beasley Ryan Harwood Ryan Lester
HB: Nick Robertson Mitch Golby Tom Cutler
C: Liam Dawson Sam Mayes Zac O’Brien
HF: Josh Clayton Josh McGuiness Bill Evans
F: Matt Hammelmann Trent West Jono Freeman
Foll: Archie Smith Nick Weller Ben Keays
Inter: Jack Rolls Eric Hipwood Rueben William Corey Wagner
Emer: Nate Dennis Soul Cormick Jacob Allison Isaiah Edwards Jackson Starcevich Ollie Ritchie Isaac Corvo Aaron Maricic
In: Hugh Beasley Eric Hipwood Ryan Harwood Nick Weller Ben Keays Rueben William Corey Wagner Jono Freeman Trent West Jack Rolls
Out: Dylan Adkins Leigh Harding Tom Rolls Jesse Malthouse Luke Penberthy William Wolbers Zac Southern Daniel Merrett Brent Staker Rohan Bewick
SYDNEY
B: Xavier Richards Jordan Foote Brandon Jack
HB: Nic Newman Aliir Aliir Jack Hiscox
C: Harrison Marsh Daniel Robinson George Hewett
HF: Lachlan Behagg James Lonergan Abaina Davis
F: Nathan Cooper Isaac Heeney Sean McLaren
Foll: Toby Nankervis Craig Bird Dean Towers
Inter: Zak Jones Jake Lloyd Harry Cunningham Tom Mitchell Tim Coenen Darcy Baron-Hay Ryan Hebron Lloyd Perris Jake Veale
Emer: Nil
In: Zak Jones Jake Lloyd Harry Cunningham Tom Mitchell Craig Bird Jordan Foote Toby Nankervis Ryan Hebron Lloyd Perris Jake Veale Dean Towers Nathan Cooper Lachlan Behagg
Out: Tom Derickx Oscar Osbourne Zac Fyffe Ben Davis Andrew Sierakowski Eli Prescott Anthony Treacy Brayden Kilpatrick