LIONS BRIDGING GAP WITH COAST
HARRIS Andrews claims Brisbane expect a major QClash response to Rodney Eade’s sacking from the Suns.
He said the Lions would be fortified by their determination to be the kings of Queensland.
Eric Hipwood reckons there is no greater honour than representing your home state and was proud of the growing maroon flavour of the Lions.
“It is a massive honour to be able to play for the state you grew up in,’’ he said.
‘‘It makes life easier for us to be able to be close to your family and friends, but also it is good to be able to show we are developing footy in Queensland.’’
The pair are the leaders of
a new wave of Lions academy graduates that are driving the side’s resurgence.
The Lions’ charter is to have 20 per cent of their list made up of Queenslanders without opting for players with lesser ability just because of the address on their passport.
The AFL academies are the centrepiece of that strategy.
On Saturday Jacob Allison and Ben Keays are expected to join Andrews and Hipwood as academy graduates in the side.
Other academy products on the list include Liam Dawson, Jonathan Freeman, Archie Smith, Matthew Hammelmann and Reuben William who have all played senior footy.
Captain Dayne Beams, Dayne Zorko, Tom Bell and Claye Beams and rookie Blake Grewar round out the Queensland contingent.
Hipwood, 19, and in his second year of footy after being taken with pick 14 in the 2015 draft, said he owed his career to the academy system and believed they were inspiring young players to follow their dreams.
“Being out at appearances for the club I am getting a feeling from young kids that they feel there is a pathway there for them now,’’ he said.
“Being a part of the academy is something that attracted me to the sport, before then it was just something I did for a bit of fun, but being inside the Lions academy gave me an insight into the sport and I enjoyed it more by being closer to the Lions at a young age. It made me want to play the sport professionally.’’
Andrews said the Lions were aware of the typical passionate response from clubs when a coach was sacked.
“Obviously there has been a fair bit going on down there and when that happens typically teams come out really hard,’’ he said.
“We have set ourselves and we will be ready for it.
“We really want a strong back half of the year, we have some winnable games and this is a really good opportunity for us to come out and show where we are.’’
Andrews was an Essendon supporter growing up and didn’t realise the significance of derbies until he joined the Lions.
“You look at the Showdown and the Western Derby, they are huge games, as footy continues to grow up here these games will only get bigger and bigger,’’ he said. “We are trying to improve the standard of Queensland football to get it closer to those interstate rivalry games.’’