Thirteen of the Brisbane Lions promising young players, dropped into the Darling Downs region to exchange kicks and handballs with a mass of budding juniors at Queens Park and the Gatton Showgrounds on Wednesday 24th March.
Lion’s players appearing at Auskick clinics could be seen as a way of protecting their fan base from the impending inclusion of Gold Coast into the AFL next year, but that is not the way the established club is viewing things.
“I think it’s important now that the Gold Coast is coming up, if we keep promoting AFL, Queensland is going to keep growing with their football,” Sean Yoshiura said.
Sean Yoshiura is the first Japanese-born player signed to an AFL club list and the 18-year-old says the emergence of the Gold Coast on the sporting landscape will be good for the game in Queensland and ultimately the Lions. The midfield tagger was happy to be at yesterday’s clinic, especially as he remembers the adoration he had for Lions players in his younger days.
“It’s a good opportunity for the professionals to give back to kids. I remember when I was a kid, I used to look up to guys like Simon Black at clinics,” Yoshiura said.
The 13 Brisbane Lions players that visited the region were Callum Bartlett, Claye Beams, Aaron Cornelius, Josh Dyson, Mitchell Golby, Pearce Hanley, Ryan Harwood, Broc McCauley, Bart McCulloch, Niall McKeever, Jesse O’Brien, Bryce Retzlaff, Sean Yoshiura
Five Hundred plus school students and Auskick participants were able to see the Brisbane Lions players up close and personal, have one on one coaching and also get their favourite players autograph and also ask questions about life as an AFL player.
Thanks to Laidley State School, Lockyer District State High School and Withcott State School for hosting the Brisbane Lions.
Last Modified on 13/07/2010 12:14
