Mature-age Brisbane Lions rookie Zac O’Brien was recognised for his standout performances in the NEAFL with selection in the State League competition’s official Team of the Year in Sydney on Sunday night.

It’s a terrific reward for the 23-year-old, whose first year in the AFL system also reaped four senior games with the Lions.

O’Brien was the only Lions player to be named in the 22-man side, which is designed to acknowledge the ‘best of the best’ across the 14-team competition.

A couple of former Lions players also featured in the NEAFL Team of the Year, with Southport’s Wayde Mills among the best defenders, and Xavier Clarke named as the Head Coach after a stunning debut season at the helm of NT Thunder.

It was the first time since the NEAFL was introduced in 2011, that the official Team of the Year wasn’t separated by Conference, rather the best players from all competing states – Queensland, New South Wales, and Northern Territory – were combined in the one team.

Lions Innovation & Development Manager Gary O’Donnell said O’Brien was a deserving member of the NEAFL’s ‘Best 22’.

“On average, I think he had more disposals than any other player in the NEAFL competition,” O’Donnell told lions.com.au.

“He also missed five games – four through senior duties and another as the travelling emergency – so it’s a real testament to the games he did play.”

O’Donnell also listed rookie defender Jordon Bourke and key forward Jordan Lisle as other Lions players who were notable throughout the 2014 NEAFL season.  

2014 NEAFL TEAM OF THE YEAR

Defenders
Matthew O’Dwyer (Sydney University)
Timothy Barton (Sydney University)
Shane Biggs (Sydney Swans)
Kade Klemke (Queanbeyan)
Wayde Mills (Southport)
Will Sierakowski (Sydney University)

Midfielders
Zac O’Brien (Brisbane Lions)
Matthew Payne (Aspley)
Blake Grewar (Redland)
Paul Hunter (Redland)
Aaron Vandenberg (Ainslie)
Mark Whiley (UWS Giants)

Forwards
Chris Dunne (NT Thunder)
Nick Salter (Ainslie)
Cameron Ilet (c) (NT Thunder)
Eddie Sansbury (Aspley)
Darren Ewing (NT Thunder)
Cleve Hughes (Redland)

Interchange
Daniel Robinson (Sydney Swans)
Jason Burge (Southport)
Jordan Harper (Belconnen)
Matt Buntine (UWS Giants)

Coach
Xavier Clarke (NT Thunder)