The Brisbane Lions will blood their fifth debutant for 2013 when Sam Michael heads out onto the Gabba to face Carlton this Saturday night.

Michael is the latest Lions player to get his first taste of senior AFL action, joining Sam Mayes (Round 3), Sam Docherty (Round 4), Marco Paparone (Round 4) and Justin Clarke (Round 5).

It’s probably fair to say that the big Queenslander has risen through the Club’s ranks quicker than most people expected after he was drafted with the Lions’ final pick at the 2011 AFL Rookie Draft.

His time spent with the AIS-AFL Academy and a handful of games with Redlands in the NEAFL were enough for the Lions to see his obvious potential.

Also in Michael’s favour was his supreme work ethic, which Redland Development Manager Craig Millar praised upon his recruitment to the AFL.
 
“Honestly, his preparation is more professional than any other kid I’ve ever seen,” Millar said.

“He is just so meticulous and is always looking for ways to get better. You’d think he’d already had five years in the AFL.”

“A lot of kids will always look for a short-cut, but he leaves absolutely nothing to chance. Sometimes you’ve got to pull him up because he’ll want to do too much.”

Michael has since thrived in the elite AFL program to the point where he is probably more advanced physically than the majority of teenagers in system.

While the 19-year-old’s football development is still a work in progress, he has made some significant inroads in the past 18 months.

Last year he received the Andrew Ireland Medal as the best player in the Lions Reserves’ NEAFL Cross-Conference Championship win against Queanbeyan, and only two weeks ago was deemed best-on-ground in the State match against the SANFL in Adelaide.

Michael credited his good form in the State League to experience gained from playing in the Lions’ 2013 NAB Cup campaign. 

“I got some great experience in the NAB Cup that I have been able to use while playing reserves, and I have just started to string a few good games together so hopefully a few more opportunities will open up as the year progresses,” he said.

Sure enough, that opportunity has now opened up.

Michael is set to join rare company as only the 11^th player in the combined history of the Club to wear the Number 46 guernsey in a senior match.

Former utility Colm Begley currently holds the honour of having made the most Club appearances in the Number 46 with just 29 senior games, which could prove some incentive for Michael throughout the remainder of his football career.

Michael by the numbers

12,190th
player to appear in VFL/AFL history

1,402nd
player to represent the Club (Fitzroy and Bears included)

153rd
player to represent the merged Brisbane Lions since 1997

11th
player in the Club’s combined history to wear the #46 in a senior match

Players to have worn the #46 guernsey in a senior match for the Club