Queensland Scorpions and Hyundai Lions Academy player, Isaac Conway, continues to show that he is one of the top kids in the country, earning the Round 11 Rising Star Nomination.
He was a standout for the Lions Reserves, in their first loss of the season against a strong Gold Coast Suns outfit.
The ex-Sandgate junior says that he was extremely happy with his performance on the weekend and it has held him in good stead for his next Scorpions State Game.
“Yeah I am pretty excited actually. My goal was to just play consistent footy at the Lions or Aspley, but it is a pretty good honour to win the Rising Star against the Gold Coast Suns,” Conway said.
“Each week I just want to perform, do my role, use the footy well, make more tackles and win the contested footy.”
“I’ve been playing consistent footy at the Lions and I have taken a lot of confidence out of the weekend, into this weekend’s state game against SA.”
Although the 2013 Scorpion jumper presentations aren’t until next week, Conway is the hot tip for captaincy after leading the U16s to a Division Two title in 2011.
The 18-year-old will have to learn to adapt to a new playing style quickly, as he goes from a defensive midfielder/backman to an attacking inside midfielder.
“For the Lions I play down back or in the middle running with someone, but at nationals I will spend a lot more time in the midfield trying to accumulate more of the footy, expose the opposition with my running and working hard with defensive running.”
The inside midfielder is doing everything he can to enhance his chances of getting drafted, whether it be doing the ‘extras’ or getting in the ears of his favourite AFL player.
“Each Tuesday night I do a bit on the bike or extra touch work, Thursday nights I work on my upper body and core at the gym and on Friday I prepare myself for the weekend with stretching.
“It’s quite hard during the week with work and stuff, but any time I’m not at training or work, I’m doing extras.”
“Getting the chance to play week-in week-out with my favourite player (Claye Beams) has been phenomenal.
“Winning a Grand Final and having a preseason with them, has allowed to learn their running patterns and where to go to get the football.”
The apprentice electrician grew up as a Sandgate junior, where he played all his junior football, before moving to Aspley last year.
Although Conway is technically contracted to the Aspley Hornets, being a Hyundai Lions Academy player allows him to play and train with the Lions, giving him the best possible chance of being drafted.
However, Conway is not fussed; he just wants to play his best footy, make his parents proud and has a plan B in case his name isn't read out on Draft day.
“It’s been a rough start to the year with personal stuff in the family, I’m just trying to get the best out of myself and hopefully make them proud by getting draft.”
“If I don’t get drafted I want to finish my electrical apprenticeship.
“Go back to the Aspley Hornets, keep working hard and see what happens.”
