Page 46 - AFL QUEENSLAND 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW

AFL QUEENSLAND ACADEMIES REPORT
The AFL Club Academies Program is really starting to grow momentum and more importantly, we are starting to see a more rounded and better prepared players representing Queensland at national championships.
The Queensland Under 16 Young Scorpions team was undefeated in winning the Division 2 NAB AFL National Championships and the Queensland Under 18 Scorpions State team had an historical victory, defeating a division 1 state in Western Australia during the NAB AFL Under 18 National Championships.
I have no doubt the preparation through the Academies and the AFL Queensland regional talent programs assisted in these great results.
Growing the pool of talent for the 18 AFL clubs is ultimately
the aim of the program. The number one priority for AFLQ is to increase the number of Queenslanders on both the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast SUNS lists.
Both clubs are very supportive of this objective and with the
Gold Coast SUNS finishing their priority access of all talent out of Queensland in 2012, the Brisbane Lions are very excited about the young talent in their designated zone leading in to the 2013 draft.
Under a bidding system both AFL clubs will have the opportunity to access the best talent within their zone each year.
The joint venture philosophy in attracting new talent to our game is critical. AFL Queensland and the community football network, AFL clubs and the AFL all play an important role in providing the funding, development programs and, of course, at AFL level the high number of professional contracts that makes AFL a very attractive option to first choice athletes.
For the first time the four AFL clubs in NSW/ACT and Queensland came together in Albury in September for a series of under 14 games.
The objective was to assess the talent pool in both states four years before these boys become eligible for the draft. From this point we will be able to monitor the progress of these boys leading in to the 2016 which is a critical year in the growth of the Academy concept.
By 2016 Queensland and NSW/ACT is expected to supply 18-20% of the draft pool on an annual basis.
The match series between academies will continue to grow in the future. Some of this activity will be around NEAFL fixture games and taking the AFL brand through the academies to country regions in both states.
AFL Queensland is excited about the level of talent activity and continued improvement in the standard of players coming out of the programs.
We love to see Queensland players running around playing AFL level football. This only inspires junior players to work hard and live the dream of one day playing AFL football.
The academies play a massive part in providing the development and the opportunity for boys to see and be coached and mentored by current AFL players.
The number of Queenslanders being drafted each year will certainly increase in the near future.
GENERAL MANAGER TALENT MARK BROWNING
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2012 Year in Review