The Lions secured the rights to two academy graduates following Monday's bidding meeting, taking Liam Dawson (third-round selection) and Harris Andrew (fourth-round).
It follows on from the selection of Jono Freeman last year.
Despite putting four years work into Dawson, Lions academy manager Luke Curran said the club could not afford to be too sentimental with players from their own backyard.
"We get to know the boys pretty well, but we also want the best talent coming into the football club," Curran said.
"While we'd like our academy boys in there amongst the selections, it's unrealistic to think we'd take just purely academy boys in the draft.
"The boys have worked hard, earned their spot, and I think it's justified when other clubs bid on the boys - that really justifies where they sit in the draft order."
Richmond bid on Dawson with its second-round selection, while North Melbourne put a bid in for Andrew with its-third round, meaning the Lions secured the pair with the following selections.
Dawson said the Lions gave him no indication of their intentions until last week's Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium.
"It's always nice to see other clubs interested in Queensland people, and it shows Queensland footy is really improving," Dawson said.
Curran said with more than 200 players involved in the Lions academy from the age of 12 up, it was a difficult balancing act.
"We're pretty realistic to know they're not all going to go on and be AFL footballers," he said.
"With boys like Liam, who I have known for a while, you do form a special relationship with him, his family … so it is quite pleasing in that regard.
"The boys that miss out, there is that tinge of sadness there."
