BRISBANE has backed itself to turn another Irishman into an AFL footballer.
Lithuanian-born athlete Deividas Uosis, who moved to Ireland at age four, has committed to play for the Lions, the only catch being he won't officially be on the club's list until 2021.
All Irish recruits receive a two-year international contract, typically as a Category B rookie, although AFL clubs can have just one Irishman with that status.
The 19-year-old was a standout performer at the AFL Europe Combine in December – and Brisbane, with pro scout Shane Rogers' encouragement, has moved quickly to secure his signature.
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"I was surprised to get the call," Uosis told the Irish Independent.
"I was told I tested well at the Combine. Everyone did interviews at the Combine but Brisbane were the first to come back to me and when they did, I wasn't going to miss that opportunity.
"It's a dream to go down there and play professional sport."
Uosis will eventually join countryman James Madden on the Lions' list, after the latter signed a one-year contract extension in July last year to remain in Queensland until at least 2021.
Madden, who will become a Category A rookie or be promoted to the primary list once Uosis arrives, has shown promise in the NEAFL.
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He is on track to be the fourth Irishman to play an AFL match for Brisbane, behind Colm Begley, Pearce Hanley and Niall McKeever.
Hanley's younger brother, Cian, was also on the Lions' list for a while but didn't play a senior game before choosing to return home.
Uosis, who turns 20 in June, stands 182cm and was the fastest AFL Europe Combine participant over 20m (2.76sec) and placed fourth in agility testing (7.92sec).
Both of those times would have ranked first at last year's NAB AFL Draft Combine.
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Uosis' result in the Yo-Yo test (21.5) was also superior to Hawthorn's father-son recruit Finn Maginness, the Australian Combine's top overall performer.
He will follow current AFL footballers and fellow Kerry products Mark O'Connor and Stefan Okunbor into the Australian game.
Uosis is predominantly a goalkeeper in Gaelic football.
