Introduction Aaron Cornelius was recruited from Tasmania as a promising forward who is strong on the lead and has very clean hands. He reads the play very well and looks to be an exciting key forward prospect for the Lions' future. Background • Cornelius represented Tasmania in basketball as a junior before focussing on his football career with local club Glenorchy. • He burst onto the scene in the U16’s and was selected to be part of the esteemed AIS/AFL Academy. • He was considered to have the ‘best pair of hands for his age in Australia’ when he was first selected to represent Tasmania in the 2007 U18 Championships. • He earned All-Australian honours as a bottom aged player at the 2007 junior carnival and became widely touted a future star of the AFL. Despite his rapidly rising profile, his age restricted him from entering the 2007 National Draft. • He joined the Tassie Mariners VFL side in 2008 and his form seemed to tread water as he experienced senior football for the first time. He still played a total of 12 matches with the Devils and kicked 19 goals – including a bag of four goals against Casey on ANZAC Day. • He went on to captain Tasmania’s side in the 2008 U18 Championships and stamped himself as a class act with a number of impressive performances. • Despite being widely touted among the top 30 young prospects in the country, Cornelius lasted until the fourth round of the 2008 National Draft and the Lions had no hesitation in selecting him with their pick No.57. 2009 • The big Tasmanian forward completed his first AFL pre-season and was rewarded with selection in the Club's opening NAB Cup match against St Kilda at Gold Coast Stadium. • However, he couldn't quite find a spot in the senior side at the start of the regular season as he was in direct competition for a role in the forward line with Captain Jonathan Brown and sharpshooter Daniel Bradshaw. • He showed plenty of promise with the Reserves side as a forward before being trialled as a potential key defender. • His apprenticeship in defence earned him his first senior call-up in Round 9 against St Kilda when the Lions lost key backmen Daniel Merrett and Joel Patfull through injury. After a tough battle with Justin Koschitzke in the opening half, Cornelius moved forward and finished with two goals. • He returned to the AFLQ the following week and played out the remainder of the season with the Reserves. • He played predominantly forward during the second half of the season and kicked regular bags of goals as the Lions Reserves' focoal point in attack. Cornelius' strong hands in marking contests were certainly a feature of his game.
2010 • Cornelius was regularly among the Lions Reserves' best players in 2010. • He booted 11 goals from his first four games in the Reserves, including five in Round 4 in the Lions’ win over the Western Magpies. • He was also instrumental in the Lions’ win over Aspley in Round 9, kicking six goals in a gamebreaking performance. • Cornelius was rewarded for his consistent efforts in the Reserves with a call-up to the senior side in Round 13, and played a total of five games for the seniors in 2010 after continuing to display outstanding form in the Reserves. 2011 • Cornelius was presented with an early opportunity to play senior football in the first month of 2011 after a long-term injury to Captain Jonathan Brown left the Lions with a void up forward. • But after totalling just nine disposals and zero goals across two games between Rounds 4-5, he returned to the Lions Reserves to gain some confidence. • After being initially trialled down back, Cornelius proved that full-forward was his primary position by kicking regular bags of goals and providing headaches for the NEAFL. • In fact, he rocketed up to second on the NEAFL goal-kicking list after booting 16 goals from three games. • His form became too hard to ignore, and he was eventually recalled to the senior team for the final six matches, which produced a total of 10 goals - including a career-best haul of four goals against Adelaide in Round 20. • He finished 2011 with a career-best return of eight AFL games and 10 goals, and still managed to place 5th overall on the NEAFL goal-kicking leaderboard with 46 goals with the Lions Reserves.
Aaron Cornelius pressed his claim for a regular spot in the Lions' side with three goals against the TigersSunday, June 20, 2010 - 1:45PM
Utility Justin Sherman says an improved list has the Lions primed for a great start to the seasonTuesday, March 16, 2010 - 6:21PM
#44 Aaron CorneliusTuesday, March 09, 2010 - 9:26AM
Young Tasmanian Aaron Cornelius is set on breaking into the powerful Lions forward lineFriday, January 08, 2010 - 1:21PM
Brisbane Lions youngster Aaron Cornelius’ boyhood dream of debuting in a St Kilda game came half true at Docklands on SundayMonday, May 25, 2009 - 10:01AM
Aaron Cornelius speaks exclusively to BLTV about his recent debut in the senior team, being presented his guernsey by Lappin and playing in front of friends and family.Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 4:36PM
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