The Brisbane Lions have finalised their 2014 playing list by adding two local Queensland talents and a mature-age midfielder via the 2013 AFL Rookie Draft.

The Lions welcomed Queensland U18 Captain Isaac Conway with their first selection (Pick No.6), before adding 23-year-old Zac O’Brien (Pick No.23).  and basketball prodigy Archie Smith (Pick No.69).

Conway officially joins the Club after being a member of the Hyundai Lions Academy in 2013.

He is an midfielder with a strong work ethic and football smarts, who was a member of the Lions Reserves’ 2012 NEAFL premiership success.

Conway also exudes strong leadership qualities, which were recognised when he was named as Captain of Queensland’s side during the U18 AFL National Championships.

“We’ve been fortunate to work closely with Isaac over the past couple of years and seen him emerge as a quality young talent in Queensland,” Kerr said.

“He’s a strong bodied midfielder who can win the contested ball and really lead by example. He was also trialled across half-back at times in 2013, which we feel has helped add some extra elements to his game.

“There is obviously still plenty of improvement in him, but we’re confident now that he is in the system full-time, that he can become a long-term midfield proposition for our Club.”

O’Brien, who hails from country Victoria, made the progression from suburban footballer to Essendon’s VFL side in 2013, where he played predominantly as an inside midfielder.

He caught the Lions’ eye after averaging 23 disposals, five clearances and five tackles in what is largely considered to be the premier secondary competition in the country.

“Zac is a hard working midfielder who also has the capacity to win the ball at stoppages and around the ground,” National Talent Manager Rob Kerr said.

“He’s a clever player with a strong physical element to his game and should add some good depth to our midfield group.”

Smith, like Conway, was a member of the Hyundai Lions Academy in 2013, and the pair now join Jordon Bourke and Jonathan Freeman as successful graduates from the Club’s development program.

Smith, 18, was first identified as a potential AFL talent last year as part of the Club’s Future Stars program and has spent the past 12 months developing with Academy.

The son of former Brisbane Bullets centre Andre Moore, Smith had received offers from a number of US colleges to head overseas on a basketball scholarship, but instead opted to try his hand at Australian football.

After just six months of training, Smith was selected to represent Queensland in the U18 AFL National Championships and also played a total of eight NEAFL matches with Mt Gravatt and the Brisbane Lions Reserves.

His obvious talents earned him an exclusive invitation to the AFL Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium in October, where he displayed his athletic prowess by finishing first in the running vertical leap (97cm).

The 200cm spring-heeled ruckman will now get an opportunity to develop further as part of the Lions’ official playing list.

“We’re really happy to have Archie on board,” Kerr said.

“It’s a real coup for the Club and the Hyundai Lions Academy to convert such a promising basketball player to our code. Clubs spend a considerable amount of time scouring the world for such natural talents, and it’s terrific that we’ve been able to find one in our own backyard.

“Archie has shown an enormous amount of improvement over the past 12 months, and has many of the attributes to succeed in the AFL.

“That said, he’s still very much a work in progress, and will require a considerable amount of development before he’s ready to play senior AFL football.

Meanwhile, delisted small forward Todd Banfield is headed to Richmond despite training with the Lions during the early stages of the pre-season.

Lions’ General Manger, Football Operations, Dean Warren said:

“We were always committed to re-drafting Todd as a rookie, however it became apparent earlier this week that Richmond were also interested in his services.

“After some discussions with both Todd and the Tigers, we came to an agreement that would allow him to continue his AFL career in Melbourne.

“Todd departs the Club with the our best wishes and we acknowledge and appreciate the contribution he has made in five seasons at the Lions.”