By Ant Wingard @AntWingard
The AFL Inclusion All Australian Team featured plenty of sunshine state flair in 2018.
Two Queenslanders were named in the side at the conclusion of the 2018 National Inclusion Carnival on Saturday to recognise the best footballers from across the week-long event.
Team captain Josh Correa and vice-captain Brad Lawrence both made the side after starring for Queensland who qualified for the challenging division one for the second consecutive year.
Correa, a silky outside midfielder, was able to control games through the middle with his renowned ability to anticipate play and used his speed to break lines.
Lawrence produce a similarly spectacular carnival, playing through the midfield and across half-back where he showed his uncanny love of tackling against the challenging opposition.
AFL Queensland Diversity Coordinator – Talent, Peter Yagmoor, said both players’ selection into the All Australian Team was a reward for their commanding performances throughout the carnival.
“Josh leads by his performances in the games. He breaks lines and does all of the little things well. He’s a very good player,” Yagmoor told aflq.com.au.
“His experience and the way he played the game definitely helped the team. “
“Brad is very similar. His attack on the ball and on the opposition is unreal. He runs hard both ways and he doesn’t stop running.”
Queensland Inclusion Head Coach, Daniel Ramage, was pleased with the role both players played throughout the Inclusion Carnival.
“We rotated them together so that when one was in the back line, the other was in the midfield just to have a leader in both areas. They both played their role for the team,” Ramage said.
“Josh is obviously more of an outside player and used his skill and run. Brad is more of the bull terrier who got the ball out and tackled well. He tackled a lot and he put on a few big hits. He goes hell for leather and doesn’t hold back.”
“Brad’s courage and attack on the ball is just relentless. Josh is elite with his skill and game sense. He knows how to read the ball.”
The Queensland duo’s nomination into the AFL Inclusion All Australian Team was the perfect footnote to another successful carnival for the side.
Dylan Evans was named Queensland’s Most Valuable Player at the carnival as the team’s best and most improved player.
