A Gold Coast community footballer has showcased his skills in an AFL trial match against the Brisbane Lions

A footballer playing in a low-grade community football league in Queensland shapes as an draft hidden gem who could be plucked from obscurity and signed by an AFL club. Discover how here.

A footballer playing in a low-grade community football league in Queensland shapes as an AFL draft hidden gem who could be plucked from obscurity and signed by a club.

Off the radar of nearly every AFL club in the country, Nicholas Francis is the Bond University midfielder who plays in the QFA Division 2 South league.

The competition sits four levels below the top tier, nestled quietly behind the likes of the VFL, QAFL and grassroots Division 1 leagues.

Francis battled through injury in 2021 and 2022 when he was Xavier College school captain in Victoria.

Bond University Australian Rules recruit. Nicholas Francis. Picture: Bond University.

Although he returned to school football in year 12, he was overlooked in the 2023 AFL draft.

The teenager caught the eye of the Gold Coast Suns sparking the opportunity to line up against the Brisbane Lions in the clubs first pre-season hitout on Thursday.

The match at Brighton Homes Arena, played across six 20 minute periods, featured close to full strength sides in the opening half before both club’s introduced VFL listed and academy players.

Suns VFL coach Tate Kaesler said Francis looked right at home when he entered the action for the 5th and 6th periods.

“Nick covered the ground really well stepping up to VFL level,” he said.

“His pressure on the opposition was of a really good quality and he made great decisions with the ball in hand.’’

However, he was called into the Suns program on his arrival to Queensland and has impressed in pre-season intra-club matches leading up to his debut on Thursday.

The 2024 Riewoldt Family AFL Excellence Scholarship recipient has made an immediate impact on the Bull Sharks and did not disappoint in his first exposure to AFL listed opposition for the Suns.

The Lions side for the final two periods still boasted 10 AFL listed players which Francis said gave him an understanding of the standard he hoped to reach with his football.

“Getting an opportunity to play in an AFL environment was an unreal experience,” he said.

“To get a taste of what it is like at the top level certainly provides a lot of motivation and an excellent opportunity for growth and learning.

“I’m very grateful to the Suns for the chance to play.’’

Bond Director of AFL Andy Lovell said Francis has been a terrific addition to the Bull Sharks squad.

“He’s made a really big impact on the group,” he said.

“He has been a standout in our match simulation at training and we’re excited to see him in action when the season starts.

“He’s also been really impressive with how he has bought in to our culture, on nights when he can’t train because of Suns commitments he’s always down at the club, helping out with drills and getting involved.

“I reckon he rolled footies for ground ball drills for hours the other night, and his teammates can really see his commitment to the club.’’

Joining Francis on the field for the Suns was fellow Bondie Ben O’Brien.

The second year Bachelor of Policy, Philosophy and Economics-Bachelor of Laws student, who hails from St Brendan’s College at Yeppoon is a member of the Suns Academy.

This story is part of the Bulletin’s ‘Best of Bond’ column, supplied by Bond University.