In November last year, Lewy Taylor was anxiously awaiting his fate at the 2013 NAB AFL National Draft.

Taylor was one of only a handful of prospective draftees invited to attend the Gold Coast meeting, such was the expectation that he would be among the top dozen or so selections.

But he was surprisingly still there at Pick No.28, which is exactly where the Brisbane Lions pulled off the steal of the Draft.

Fast forward 10 months and the Mortlake product couldn’t have possibly imagined how his debut AFL season would eventually pan out.

Taylor finished the season as one of only three Lions players to feature in all 22 senior matches in 2014, and for good measure, also became the Club’s fourth ever AFL Rising Star winner.

He also capped off his maiden campaign by equalling Daniel Rich’s record for best finish in the Merrett-Murray Medal by a first year player (sixth), and took home the Club’s Rookie of the Year Award.

What makes his story even more remarkable is that he wasn’t alone in having an outstanding first AFL season.

Taylor was one of 10 Lions to make their senior debut in 2014, with James Aish and Darcy Gardiner also spending the bulk of their first season in the senior team and earning Rising Star nominations.

Aish, who finished fourth overall in the AFL Rising Star Award, also claimed a top 10 finish in the Merrett-Murray Medal.

In fact, it was the first time in the Lions’ merged history that two first year players had featured inside the top 10 on Club Champion night.

But ultimately it was the popular member of the ‘Mozzie Squad’ who took the honours in a hotly contested category.

“Firstly, I want to thank the Club for this year. I’ve loved every minute of it,” Taylor said during his acceptance speech on Club Champion night.

“The boys are a great bunch of fellas, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Such is the 173cm forward’s affinity towards the Club, that he had no hesitation in extended his playing contract to ensure he remains in Brisbane a little longer.