Brisbane Lions defender Jack Payne brought the AFL premiership cup home to Noosa last week while in town for the club’s 2025 AFL Community Camp.
The former Noosa junior spoke to media before Wednesday’s open training session at the Maroochydore Sports Complex on day one of the club’s visit.
“I’m doing about 25 minutes worth of skills today and then the rehab boys and I are going off to do a swim,” he said.
Jack talked about his journey through the AFL Queensland pathway from Sunshine Coast junior to the Youi Brisbane Lions Academy before becoming a premiership player.
“I’ve touched on it before but if it wasn’t for the Brisbane Lions Academy then I probably wouldn’t have ever taken up AFL,” he said.
“That was sort of around the age of 12 or 13 when I got that invitation to join so I’m very grateful to the club for that opportunity.”
Jack said he believed the game was 100 per cent growing in Noosa.
“We’ve had a lot of coast players that have come through the AFL system and a lot of Queenslanders as well,” he said.
“I definitely feel like the numbers in AFL Queensland are on the rise, particularly in the last five to six years. It’s awesome to see. We’ve got the super clinic here on Friday so there will be so many kids that we can give back to and we’re looking forward to that as well.”
The Noosa local said he was looking forward to visiting the Noosa Tigers AFC club on Wednesday afternoon.
“I’m very keen to head back there and catch up with a lot of people that I still keep in contact with to this day,” Jack said.
Winning the AFL premiership in 2024 was such a special day for their supporters, members of staff, and players.
“We’ve been able to sit down as a group and share the moments of that special day, so hopefully we can be back there this season,” Jack said.
“Obviously it’s a tale of two stories, missing out on the grand final in 2023 and then playing the year after in 2024 but the body is good.
“We’ve got some games coming up next month so it’s not too far around the corner and we’re all very keen for that.”
He said their women’s team have done exceptionally well over the last eight or nine years since they brought in the AFLW.
“As a club, that’s what we strive for. Both parties to be competing really well at the top level so no doubt it has a really big impact on the kids in both male and females coming up,” Jack said.
Sunshine Coast Council mayor Rosanna Natoli said it was fantastic to be able to welcome the Brisbane Lions to the Sunshine Coast.
“It absolutely looks magnificent here at the facility at Fisherman’s Road. We’re so proud to be able to have this team here to share the spirit of AFL with our community,” she said.
“It is so important as sport really brings people together.
“Obviously I’m a fan, so it is really special. We have a lot of Brisbane Lions fans here on the Sunshine Coast.
“We’re super proud of our Sunshine Coast footballers, who go on to play at the AFL, at this level for the Lions. So, go Lions!”
Brisbane Lions co-captain Harris Andrews spoke to the media at Thursday’s Youi Family Day.
“It’s been a great opportunity to get up here and train really hard in some testing conditions but also engage in our community camp and get out into the community whether that be schools, footy clubs, or surf clubs for that matter,” Harris said.
“We’re excited to get around everyone that has shown so much support to us.
“There’s been so many great footballers come out of the Sunshine Coast in both the women’s and men’s AFL and AFLW. And there’s so much passion for us which we’re extremely grateful for.”
