Finley is once again cheering after another locally developed talent has been drafted to the AFL.
Former Finley Football Netball Club junior Shadeau Brain was pre-selected by the Brisbane Lions in last week’s AFL Rookie Draft.
Brain, who played three years at the Finley club, including in the seniors as a 15 year-old, currently plays for the Noosa Tigers and Brisbane Lions Academy.
He was pre-signed to the Brisbane Lions ahead of the NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
For the 18 year-old, the official announcement is yet to really sink in.
“It’s was a pretty weird feeling, just a whirlwind of emotion,” he said.
“It still hasn’t really sunk in, but it will in the next few weeks, I think.”
The Queensland zone selection will don the #34 jumper for the Brisbane Lions.
A medium forward with the ability to win the ball in the air and on the ground, Brain relocated to Queensland from Finley two years ago.
He said the decision was primarily a lifestyle choice his parents wanted, but it coincided with Brain’s elevation to a senior side in a higher grade league.
At the age of 16 he debuted for the Noosa Tigers, where he has played the last two seasons.
He did not qualify for the Lions as an Academy player, and was therefore up for pre-selection.
An Indigenous talent, he showed a touch of class in three matches for the Allies, averaging 13 disposals and kicking three goals.
He was among the best players in the game against Vic Metro but did not test at the Draft Combine as he was recovering from a shoulder injury.
Brain’s Allies side selection was hampered mid-season with a groin injury and late in the season with a shoulder injury.
This, however, did not dint the confidence the Brisbane Lions have in his future and ability.
When asked if he was happy to be a Lion or would have preferred a childhood favourite team, Brain said Brisbane “had a good look at me, more so than any other team, and they seem to be happy with what they saw”.
His hopes for the next few years are to get upgraded to an AFL player and play senior football.
The Finley Football and Netball Club is celebrating Brain’s drafting.
“We are extremely proud of his achievements so far and wish him all the best as he starts his AFL journey,” the club said.
Brain is the eleventh of Greg and Michelle Brain’s children, ranging from their mid-teens to their mid-30s.
His dad led the way as a footballer of merit in his own right.
“Dad played pretty high level football,” he said.
“He played up in Nightcliff in Darwin, played a bit of footy around country Victoria and coached Victoria’s under-18s one year.
“He’s been a pretty high level coach and footballer.
“I was born in Shepparton. I spent a fair portion of my life in Finley and it was just a fair bit back and forwards from Noosa.”
Greg described his son’s AFL draft selection as “sensational”.
“It’s good to see him do this after all his hard work,” he said.
Last month, Fox Sports spotlighted Brain as a future cult hero, saying that in every AFL Draft, typically thanks to a unique name, a new one emerged, such as Phoenix Spicer or Irving Mosquito in the past.
“It’s safe to say 2022’s winner is Shadeau Brain,” according to the Fox Sports report.
That unique name has already captured the minds of many online footy fans, which started when a photo of Brain at the Draft Combine went viral on Footy Twitter.
Then, a feature from CODE Sports’ Daniel Cherny helped speed up the Brain bandwagon.
“He would not be the first VFL-AFL Brain - there have been six, from Horrie (who debuted in 1907) to the most recent, Ray (who debuted in 1972) - but he would definitely be the first Shadeau,” the Fox report read.
Other locals to make their mark in the AFL include Tom Hawkins and Shane Crawford from Finley, and Billy Brownless from Jerilderie.