Brisbane Lions Vice Captains Daniel Merrett and Tom Rockliff were today joined by the Queensland Minister for Education and Member for Greenslopes, Cameron Dick MP, at Villanova College in Coorparoo to launch the groundbreaking Lion Hearted Leaders program - an exciting new leadership program developed by the Lions players themselves for students in grades 5-8.

The Lion Hearted Leaders program has been developed over the past six months by Lions players and staff in order to deliver an educational program in line with the Brisbane Lions’ core leadership values.

It will be delivered to more than 5,000 students across South East Queensland in 2012 in conjunction with AFL Queensland.

Merrett said that the Lion Hearted Leaders program was something that the players had worked hard on.

“This is a program that we’ve come up with to instil these leadership values into kids, and I think it was really effective today,” Merrett said.

“The kids were engaging with the program in the classroom, and then when we went for a kick around on the field afterwards, we could really see them applying those leadership values - mateship and inclusion - into their footy.”

“It was great to see.”

Minister Dick, who was on hand to see the first ever Lion Hearted Leaders today, said that it was fantastic to see the Lions providing an educational and rewarding program for youngsters.

Following today’s visit, the Lion Hearted Leaders program will be delivered to more than 40 schools on the Sunshine Coast next week as the Lions visit the region for the AFL Australia Post Community Camp.