Over 120 of the AFL’s brightest new talents from across the country converged on Etihad Stadium this morning to be welcomed into the AFL system by their representative body, the AFL Players’ Association, as part of the 2015 AFL Players’ / AFL Induction Camp.

Among the attendees were the Lions’ 10 new draftees – Liam Dawson, Harris Andrews, Josh Clayton, Josh Watts, Jaden McGrath, Josh McGuinness, Billy Evans, Hugh Beasley, Cian Hanley, and Matthew Hammelmann – along with Club Welfare staff Manny Lynch and Aleisha Whitelock.

The camp, which is entering its 15th year, will see draftees briefed on a number of topics including the importance of wellbeing, career development, financial education, personal brand, respectful relationships, illicit drugs and match fixing, anti-doping as well as an education session about the AFL Players’ charity, Ladder, which helps tackle the issue of youth homelessness.

In addition to the players’ already jam-packed itinerary, the Lions’ contingent will also be taken on a tour of the Historical Society Museum housed on Level D at Etihad Stadium – which contains a broad range of historic artefacts from the Club’s Fitzroy origins (including seven premiership cups).

The Museum tour has become an important part of the education process for all first year Lions players, who are often in awe how rich the Club’s history actually is.

Interestingly, two of the Lions’ latest crop of draftees – Evans and Andrews – weren’t even born when Fitzroy played its last ever AFL game.

Jaden McGrath told lions.com.au that the group had benefited from their first information session on Monday morning

“It’s been good so far. It’s not so much about our footy careers, but more talking about managing finances and making sure we set ourselves up for life after footy,” he said.  


(from left) Billy Evans, Hugh Beasley, and Josh Watts enjoy a break from proceedings at Etihad Stadium