Page 55 - AFL QUEENSLAND 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW

The nine inclusions joined first-choice grand final top-ups Dave Cummins, Scott Clarke, Jack Fox, Isaac Conway and Jesse Wallin.
With Fox (18), Conway (17) and Wallin (19), plus first-year rookies Justin Clarke (18) and Michael (19), also in the side it meant the Lions fielded 14 teenagers.
Buchanan (29), Cheynee Stiller (26), Wrigley (25), Hawksley (23), McKeever (23) and Lisle (22) were the old men of the visiting side.
But coach Clarke suggested the high teenage contingent may have been something of a secret weapon against a Queanbeyan line-up which, according to local officials, hadn’t displayed quite the same commitment that they’d shown in the Eastern Conference grand final.
“It might sound stupid, but if we’d brought more listed players down here we might not have won,” he said, having masterminded a 2012 campaign which could not have been more in contrast to their wooden-spoon finish of 2011.
“To get up for a second grand final in six days was always going to be a challenge, but the run and the enthusiasm of the young guys was sensational, and it was infectious among the listed guys.
“I don’t want to leave anyone out because it was one of those days where everyone did their bit. The nine listed players were fantastic, but every one of the top-ups can be proud of their contribution too,” said Clarke.
The Lions, who had only four wins and a draw in their wooden- spoon campaign of 2011, finished with an 18-4 win/loss record overall in 2012 after beating Southport, the Thunder (twice) and Queanbeyan in the finals by 35 points, 34 points, 60 points and 69 points.
Justin Clarke topped the games list with 21 from Bartlett, Dyson and top-up player Cummins, followed by Wearden and Wrigley (19), Cheynee Stiller, Lisle and Michael (18).
Lisle (58) led the goal-kicking from Cornelius (55), de-listed Bryce Retzlaff (35), Karnezis (22), Bartlett (20), Dyson (2) and Hawksley (18).
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