Brain paid his first visit to Brisbane yesterday with father Leigh and was greeted by the likes of Senior Coach Leigh Matthews and co-captains Jonathan Brown and Simon Black.
Brain has been a standout junior footballer in the NSW local football leagues and presents an exciting long-term midfield prospect.
The clever on-baller has won club best and fairest awards each year since he began his football apprenticeship as a nine year old with the Forest Lions. He has since moved on to play with St. Ives in the Northside Junior Football Association and intends to play with the ‘big boys’ in the under 18s competition at North Shore from next year.
Brain was rewarded for his impressive form among junior ranks last month with selection in the NSW under 15 state squad.
Brain plans to use his scholarship funds to visit Brisbane regularly in the coming years to learn as much as he can from the club. He feels that such an invaluable experience will further enhance his already rapid development.
“I’ve got a really great opportunity,” he said. “I just need to keep working hard and continue to improve my skills to try and make it. I would really love to eventually come up here.”
The Lions will have the option to upgrade him to the club’s senior or rookie list in 2010 when he reaches the eligible draft age.
Brain joins fellow New South Welshman Steve O’Connor as the Lions NSW scholarship players for 2007.
The AFL Scholarship Program was designed in 2006 to attract young athletes from the Greater Sydney region to Australian Rules football by providing them with a direct path to the elite AFL competition.
Through the AFL Scholarship Program, the AFL talent program in NSW/ACT is hoping to contribute 10% of the National Talent Pool by 2010.
