The Brisbane Lions’ significant investment into the development of home-grown talent through the Hyundai Lions Academy will ultimately benefit the game, and not just the Club, according to Talent Acquisition & Retention Manager Peter Schwab.

Schwab believes the Academy programs in Queensland and New South Wales will help build an ever stronger talent pool for all clubs to select from.

“It’s super important for the game,” Schwab told media at Etihad Stadium on Day Two of the 2014 NAB AFL Draft Combine.

“If we can get more and more boys coming out of those states, it’s good for everyone.

“It just builds the pool, develops the game, and creates high-profile players from those states, which means there’s something to aspire to.”

A record five Hyundai Lions Academy members – Harris Andrews, Liam Dawson, Matt Hammelmann, Nick Jackson, and Matthew Uebergang – were invited to attend the 2014 NAB AFL Draft Combine, while Isaac Heeney (Sydney Swans Academy) headlines a talented group of players from NSW-based Academies.

With such a wealth of potential Academy selections this year, Schwab said it was unrealistic to presume that the Lions would draft them all.

“I’m delighted that there are so many players from NSW and Queensland available to be selected…and some will go on to be outstanding AFL players,” Schwab said.

“We know that we’re not going to get them all from Queensland, just like Sydney and GWS aren’t going to get them all from NSW.

“That means they go into the pool and other clubs can secure some talent from those regions.”

The Lions will have until Friday to nominate which, if any, Academy or Father/Son players they intend to select at next month’s NAB AFL National Draft.

Any nominated players will then be ‘up for bid’ for all clubs at 10am on Monday 6 October at the official pre-draft bidding meeting.