The Vodafone Brisbane Lions took a great combination of size and speed at the 2007 NAB AFL Draft.

The club’s ‘big man’ stocks were bolstered by two young and very athletic key position prospects selected with the Lions’ opening two picks, before the recruiting team opted for a trio of medium sized midfielders.

The Lions chose Geelong Falcons powerful key forward Lachlan Henderson (Pick No.8), Tassie Mariners tall defender Tom Collier (Pick No.25), Calder Cannons midfielder James Polkinghorne (Pick No.41), East Fremantle midfielder Bradd Dalziell (Pick No.52) and North Ballarat Rebels midfielder Matt Austin (Pick No.56).

Brisbane Lions Football Manager Graeme Allan was thrilled with the outcome of the draft.

“We think it’s an outstanding draft for the Brisbane Lions Football Club,” Allan said. “Lions members and supporters certainly have a lot to look forward to, especially considering all five draft picks could potentially play senior football next year.”

Henderson is a 196cm strong marking player with excellent speed off the mark and good endurance as evidenced by his 13.8 beep test result at the recent NAB AFL Draft Camp.

“We are really excited about getting him,” Allan said. “He is a great leader who can play centre half-back, centre half-forward and is also athletic enough to play in the midfield.”

“Geelong Falcons Manager Michael Turner thought Lachlan was as good a player as they have ever had since Luke Hodge and Jonathan Brown. Mick also believes he will captain an AFL club one day and could potentially be the best player from this draft in three or four year’s time.”

Next selection Collier is a 193cm quick tall defender who won All Australian honours playing with Tasmania in the 2007 NAB AFL U18 Championships.

“We rated Tom as a first round pick,” Allan said. “He had an outstanding carnival in the Under 18s and can play centre half-back, on the back flank or in the midfield. He is very versatile and a great athlete.”

At 183cm and 81kg, Polkinghorne is an athletic, high possession winning midfielder who excels at stoppages.

“James is an inside midfielder and another draftee with great leadership character. He is related to the Polkinghornes that played at Hawthorn and we were really happy to get another quality person at the club,” Allan said.

20 year-old Dalziell played senior football with the East Fremantle Sharks in 2007 and at 184cm, he will further supplement the Lions’ midfield.

“We feel that Bradd is a late developer. He runs over 15 in the beep test, has a great motor, is a nice kick and came highly recommended by Graeme Hadley who is our full-time Recruiting Manager in Perth,” Allan said.

The club’s final pick saw North Ballarat Rebels midfielder and Vic Country U18 representative Matt Austin join the Lions.

“We had Matt rated somewhere in the 20s and were very surprised that he was still available with our final pick. He is a 186cm midfielder / half-forward who has excellent skills,” Allan said.

2007 LIONS AFL DRAFTEE PLAYER PROFILES

RD 1 SELECTION, PICK No. 8 OVERALL – LACHLAN HENDERSON
Original Club: Geelong Falcons (VIC)
DOB: 14/12/1989
Height: 195.5cm
Weight: 91.5kg
Position: Tall Forward
2008 Lions Guernsey No: 14

Strong marking and tall key forward or big defender prospect with strong hands. Very good on the lead and exceptionally quick off the mark for a player of his size. He displayed impressive endurance as a Vic Country representative at the recent NAB AFL Draft Camp with a shuttle run result of 13.8. Henderson has a handspan of 25cm placing him equal seventh overall. AIS-AFL Academy graduate from Geelong College. Firmed strongly as the Lions’ first round pick in the days leading up to the draft.

Alan McConnell, AIS-AFL High Performance Coach says:
“Lachie has had a challenging year with injuries but was a key player in Geelong College’s premiership in APS (Associated Public School) footy 12 months ago – he was a pivotal player there. He hasn’t had a great opportunity to present to the industry this year through injury, but he can play both forward and back, and has done some work in the ruck. Most of his TAC Cup footy has been up forward and in the ruck but he has also played some school football in defence, and in my mind, that may be where he finishes up.”

RD 2 SELECTION, PICK No. 25 OVERALL – TOM COLLIER
Original Club: Tassie Mariners (TAS)
DOB: 25/03/1989
Height: 192.3cm
Weight: 83.7kg
Position: Tall Defender
2008 Lions Guernsey No: 22

An extremely versatile and athletic player capable of playing key positions at either end of the ground. Known as a quick and much-improved defender who runs the lines and can win his own ball. Captained Tasmania with a consistent 2007 NAB AFL U18 National Championships winning All Australian honours.

At the 2007 NAB AFL Draft Camp, Collier recorded strong results in the agility testing and was ranked fourth overall with a time of 8.22 seconds. He also showed his aerobic qualities with a time of 10:38 for the 3km time trial, ranking him fourth at the Camp. His handspan is 25cm placing him equal seventh overall. AIS-AFL Academy graduate from Lauderdale FC. A highly regarded top 20 selection, he could easily have been a round one draft pick.

NAB U18 Championships Averages: Kicks: 12, Handballs: 11, Disposals: 23, Marks: 5, Goals: 1.

Alan McConnell, AIS-AFL Academy High Performance Coach says:
“Tom has played defence with the Tasmanian team. But he has also played in the midfield both on the ball and as a wingman, and even as a forward pushing up onto the ball. So he’s actually played a variety of roles. His athleticism makes him ideally suited to be the third tall in defence rather than the key defensive player. His capacity to be able to run and carry the ball is quite pronounced.”

“He is a right footer with a lovely kicking technique and can kick a long ball. He gets plenty of the ball too so that tells you that he can read the play effectively. He’s improved enormously over the last 12 months. He was considered by some as a late pick last year and it just shows how much the boys can develop in a year. He’s gone from a possible last round pick as a 17 year-old to a prospective first round pick in 2008.”

Tom Collier speaks with lions.com.au

RD 3 SELECTION, PICK No. 41 OVERALL – JAMES POLKINGHORNE
Original Club: Calder Cannons (VIC)
DOB: 21/01/1989
Height: 182.7cm
Weight: 81kg
Position: Small/Medium Midfielder
2008 Lions Guernsey No: 31

High possession winner and utility player who excels at the stoppages. Very athletic player who represented Vic Metro at the NAB AFL U18 Championships and has debuted with Coburg in the VFL. Runner-up in the Calder Cannons Best and Fairest award for 2007. Son of former Hawthorn player Robert Polkinghorne and nephew of Hawks star David Polkinghorne.

Has a tremendous ability to fearlessly leap over packs and grab the ball with the skills of a professional ‘spiker’ thanks to his three or four year volleyball background with St Bernard’s College and for the U15 Victorian schoolboys side. Missed some of last season with osteitis pubis but returned from a rigorous pre-season to average 24 possessions this year.

NAB U18 Championships Averages: Kicks: 11, Handballs: 5, Disposals: 16, Marks: 2, Goals: 1.

RD 4 SELECTION, PICK No. 52 OVERALL – BRADD DALZIELL
(Pick traded for Richard Hadley to Carlton during Trade Week)
Original Club: East Fremantle (WA)
DOB: 15/03/1987
Height: 184cm
Weight: 82kg
Position: Medium Half Forward / Wingman
2008 Lions Guernsey No: 34

Centre and half-forward / wingman who tasted senior football with the East Fremantle Sharks throughout 2007. Won a reserves trophy with East Fremantle as the best player in the finals.

RD 4 SELECTION, PICK No. 56 OVERALL – MATT AUSTIN
Original Club: North Ballarat Rebels (VIC)
DOB: 30/03/1989
Height: 186.5cm
Weight: 75.4kg
Position: Medium Midfielder
2008 Lions Guernsey No: 37

Versatile player who is an excellent kick and is strong overhead for his size. Has good ball-handling skills and agility. Vic Country U18 representative this year from Stawell FC.

NAB U18 Championships Averages: Kicks: 10, Handballs: 5, Disposals: 15, Marks: 4, Goals: 0.