The Hyundai Brisbane Lions Academy recorded a strong first up win against the Gold Coast SUNS Academy by 34 points at Yeronga on Saturday in the first of a two game series to decide the makeup of the Queensland Scorpions Under 18 training squad.
The Lions blew out to a 41 point lead at the main break following a 6 goal burst in the second quarter and despite an improved second half performance from the SUNS they were no match for the Lions in the final quarter.
Key defender Nick Jackson was impassable down back for the Lions and was clearly best on ground, with midfielders Isaac Conway, Hayden Bertoli-Simmons and Bill Pendlebury providing great delivery into the forward line.
Up forward the Lions had thre strong marking options in Jonathon Freeman, Matt Hammelmann and Liam Dawson but they frittered away many opportunities with poor conversion – especially in the first quarter.
Rookie Search ruckman Archie Smith contributed well with his aerial work and will improve with more experience.
For the Gold Coast Suns young 17-year-olds Jimmy Holland, Darcy Trask and Cassidy Haberfield worked tirelessly along with Tyler Cornish in the midfield and Jack Goodall down back.
The final trial game will be played at 1:00pm on Sunday March 24 at Cooke-Murphy Oval Labrador and the final Queensland Scorpions Under 18 training squad will be announced via the AFL Queensland website on Wednesday March 27 .
