Ex-basketballer gets kick out of chasing AFL dreams at Lions

"It was really enjoyable to play in front of family and friends.”

IN ACTION: Lions Tom Fullarton, in a NEAFL game against the Giants at Maroochydore. Picture: Patrick Woods

AFL: One year after making the switch from basketball, Sunshine Coast's Tom Fullarton says he's relishing the challenge of chasing his AFL dreams.

The 20-year-old left the Brisbane Bullets to link with the Brisbane Lions in May last year and has since come along in leaps and bounds with their reserve grade team in the North East Australian Football League.

Coach Mitch Hahn told the Daily he's "progressed a long way and he's continued to get better”.

He played for them at the Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex on Saturday, when they continued their perfect start to the season with a round eight 42-point win over the Giants.

Fullarton, who played Aussie Rules as a junior, relished the occasion.

"It was really enjoyable to play in front of family and friends again. They haven't watched me play at home in four or five years,” he said.

"I definitely feel like I'm improving each week. I'm adapting to the game again.”

"It's going to be an up and down journey but I'm ready to work hard and reach the point I want to get to, which is the AFL.

"I'm really enjoying it at the moment.”

Fullarton, 200cm and 98kg, has played in the forward line and been utilised as a ruckman.

"I feel like I've adjusted well with my running and my knowledge of the game,” he said. "There's a game plan at Brisbane so I'm just trying to execute that on the field.

"And I'm slowly getting my natural feel for the game back.

"But I've got to just keep developing my body. That's probably the big thing (because I'm) playing against big, strong defenders. That's probably the next aspect (to work on).”

Fullarton is determined to keep striving towards the big time.

"It's obviously going to take a lot of hard work and it's not going to happen straight away,” he said. "I'm willing to put my head down and learn as much as possible.”

Coasters Jack Payne and Tom Wischnat also played for Lions on Saturday.