Page 72 - AFL Queensland 2015 Year in Review

AFL DRAFT - QUEENSLAND CLASS OF ‘15
PICK 14 – BRISBANE LIONS ERIC HIPWOOD
G Junior club/s: Kawana Park/ Caloundra
G Senior club/s: Caloundra/ Aspley
G Queensland State Academy, Brisbane Lions Academy
Hipwood is a talented key position player who can be influential
at both ends. As a member of
the AFL-AIS and Brisbane Lions academies, Hipwood was always on the radar of recruiters, but announced himself during the National Championships against Tasmania, with a four-goal haul
in the third qua er to hand Queensland the win. Hipwood played the majority of the year in the Brisbane Lions reserves NEAFL team, where he picked up a Rising Star nomination, before being selected to play in a preliminary and grand final with Aspley, as well as the AFL grand final cu ain raiser with the Allies. Richmond bid their pick 14 for Hipwood, which was matched by the Lions.
PICK 24 – BRISBANE LIONS BEN KEAYS
G Junior club/s: Morningside
G Senior club/s: Redland
G Queensland State Academy/
Brisbane Lions Academy
Keays - a classy inside midfielder
- has barely put a foot wrong over the last two years. A er being named as an All-Australian at the NAB AFL National Championships in 2014, Keays took his game to a new level in 2015. Like Hipwood, Keays was a pa of the AFL-AIS Academy in 2015, captained the Queensland State Academy, played NEAFL for the Brisbane Lions - where he picked up a NEAFL Rising Star nomination - and was awarded the Hunter Harrison Medal as the best Division Two player at the Under 18 Nationals. He was also named in the All-Australian team for a second consecutive year. Adelaide originally bid for Keays with pick 24, but the Lions matched it.
PICK 43 – NORTH MELBOURNE COREY WAGNER
G Junior club/s: Sandgate/ Aspley
G Senior club/s: Sandgate/ Aspley
G Queensland State Academy/ Brisbane Lions Academy
Wagner - a midfielder with elite endurance – had two exceptional years with the Queensland State Academy. Wagner spent a lot of time in the Brisbane Lions NEAFL team this year, working closely with the Lions through their Academy, but was selected by Aspley to play in their preliminary final, alongside brother Josh. He played a pivotal role in Queensland’s Division Two winning side this year. He ba led
a groin injury towards the end of the year, but had done enough to impress the Kangaroos, who bid for him with pick 43, which was not matched by the Lions.
72