The Brisbane Lions NEAFL team could be on the brink of making history, after remaining undefeated in all thirteen games this year. No team since the NEAFL was created in 2011 has ever gone on to achieve such a feat. The closest to do this was the 2013 Lions NEAFL side who only dropped two games and went on to defeat the Sydney Swans and claim the NEAFL title.

In 2019 the Lions have been advantaged by having hardly any players on their injury list, which has seen the team stacked with AFL listed players most weeks. The NEAFL players are performing at such a high standard that they are regularly putting pressure on the senior team.

Jessica Webster, the NEAFL Communications and Media Manager, who has worked there since it’s inception, said the competition has not seen anything like it. 

“I think what makes Brisbane such a dangerous threat in 2019 is a combination of a healthy list, winning culture and competition for spots which stems from a successful AFL team,” she said.  

“In my nine years as a reporter and media manager of the NEAFL I struggle to think of another side who has had a stronger combination of all of these elements.

“It is a credit to the club’s strength and conditioning and coaching staff to get the club in such a great position, which has enabled an average of 19.31 AFL-listed players in the NEAFL each week. 

“On top of that is the quality of Academy players which step up when required at NEAFL level. These players rarely look out of place at NEAFL level and only adds to the strength of the NEAFL team.”

In 2019 the Club has played fourteen Hyundai Help for Kids Lions Academy players – seven 19-year-olds; six 18 year-olds and one 17 year-old.

Lions Academy and NEAFL Operations Manager Luke Curran said that an opportunity to play in the NEAFL was important for Academy players’ learning and development.

“It’s a considerable step up from our Under 18 match program in terms of the skill level, speed of the game and the physicality and the quicker they adapt, the quicker they perform well in the team,” he said.

The experience of working with professional athletes and coaches has also furthered their development on and off the field. 

“Being coached by our NEAFL coaching group lead by Mitch Hahn and playing alongside our AFL listed players the Academy boys very quickly develop an understanding of what’s expected of our AFL players on the field, including doing the basics well, knowing and playing their role in the team as well as communication,” Curran said.

“Off the field they have learned about physical and mental preparation, mindset and setting goals.” 

The best part of this process for Curran is seeing his Academy players step up and excel at NEAFL level. 

“We’ve witnessed 19-year-olds Keidean Coleman and Justin Currie, as well as 18 year-olds Bruce Reville, Will Martyn and Noah Cumberland show in different games they can compete and perform well at NEAFL level against quality opposition players,” he said.

“Hopefully this will help them later in the year if the get an opportunity to play finals games.

The Lions still have five games of the NEAFL season to go, with tough opposition in the Sydney Swans this weekend.