SHANE Lindgren cleaned up at the Townsville AFL awards night, and now he's aiming to make strides at state level.
Lindgren, 18, played most of this season with an understrength Curra Swans side, but he still finished the year with 10 individual awards.
Apart from winning Townsville AFL's under-18 best and fairest player, Lindgren also won the competition's goal umpires' player of the year and got picked in the under-18 team of the year.
At club level, he won a host of awards including under-18 best and fairest, leading goal scorer, players' player and most improved A-grade player.
"At the start of the year I never expected to win a single award," Lindgren said.
But now the hard-working midfielder wants to experience another level of footy. Hopefully there'll be a state league team kicking off in Cairns, and getting into that team would be awesome," he said.
"Playing a few state league games is my goal, and maybe I might even go to Brisbane and have a go there.
"I know top-level AFL might be a bit far-fetched for me, but if I can play some state league I'll be happy."
The North East Australian Football League - which features teams from Darwin to Sydney - is planning to expand and is considering a Cairns-based team for season 2014.
Despite Lindgren's mature outlook on his playing prospects, Townsville's AFL Queensland development manager Peter Young said anything was possible for the midfielder.
"He's a terrific young lad and you never know what might be down the track for him," he said.
"There's too many variables to be sure if someone will make it, but he's come a long way and he's improved remarkably. "Hopefully he's out there next year dominating (Townsville) A-grade."
Lindgren made his local A-grade debut as a 16 year old in 2010 and is a regular top-flight player.
He follows in the footsteps of other former Curra players such as Josh Hall - who has already played two AFL games with the Gold Coast Suns - and John Macansh, who played a handful of games for the Suns' seconds team earlier this year.
Curra president Peter Johnson said Lindgren was one of the club's special talents.
"He's certainly got a lot of potential, and plays well and truly above his weight," he said.
"He's quick, he's got a very good mark and he plays with a lot of passion.
"We've taken a lot of pride from the young players who have come through the club, and Shane is certainly one of our best."