Lions.com.au sat in on one of the Club’s player interviews during the AFL Draft Combine to provide fans with a greater insight into the process.

The thought of performing 18 job interviews over two days is daunting enough for an experienced professional - let alone a teenager.

But that’s exactly what faces many of the draft hopefuls who attend the annual AFL Draft Combine.

For some of the young subjects, it would mark the first time they’ve had to ‘sell’ themselves using their words, and not through their actions on the field.

While an athlete’s skill and athletic ability obviously carries greater weight in terms of their likelihood of being recruited onto an AFL list, the interview process has become increasingly important.

It can sometimes even prove the difference between whether a player is ultimately selected or not.

So imagine the pressure these young men are under when they face the ‘firing squad’ of AFL recruiters.

Each club would no doubt have their own interview techniques - from role-playing to intimidation tactics. However, the Brisbane Lions promote a more relaxed style of interview to ensure the player feels as comfortable as possible.

The process begins with the player being ushered into one of the Etihad Stadium corporate suites, where he is greeted by no less than 10 of the Club’s football and recruiting staff - including National Talent Manager Rob Kerr, GM Football Operations Dean Warren, Assistant Coach Mark Harvey, and Welfare and Leadership Manager Manny Lynch.

He is drastically outnumbered.

Prior to the player’s arrival, the Lions’ reps have already spent five minutes discussing the player’s background and have developed a plan of attack.

Once the introductions are complete, the informal process begins with a series of ‘ice-breakers’ about the events of the past couple of days.

The nerves are evident early, as the quietly spoken 18 year-old comes to terms with being surrounded by a collection of important Club officials who could ultimately decide his footballing fate.

The process continues, as the Lions seek to uncover what the player believes to be his underlying strengths and weaknesses - both as a player and a person.

There are no gimmicks. No tricks. No surprises.

The player is quizzed about his football, citing specific roles and instances from recent matches, before the focus is shifted to his personal behaviour and attributes.

The prospect of moving interstate naturally comes up considering the majority of Draft Combine invitees are non-Queenslanders. Plus, given each draftee presents a significant investment, the potential ‘go-home’ factor remains a legitimate concern.

“How do you feel about possibly having to move away from your family?”

No doubt the response to this question has changed considerably over the years, with more players now understanding that moving interstate is a reality of the national competition.

The subject’s answer in this case is honest (surely every player would prefer to stay near their family), if not convincing.

The chat lasts no longer than 10 minutes before the player is thanked, and moved on to meet with other potential employers.

How the player’s interview might affect his draft potential isn’t known immediately. It probably just gets added as another note to his extensive file and is revisited closer to the National Draft.

Over the course of the week, the Lions will interview around 30 of the 114 hopefuls at the AFL Draft Combine.