Geelong draftee Lawson Humphries reflects on his rise from WAFL reserves

By his own admission, Lawson Humphries was unfit. And in the space of 12 months he went from the WAFL reserves to the AFL. The new Cat reflects on his remarkable rise.

Lawson Humphries reflects on his rise. Picture: Theron Kirkman/AFL Photos

When Lawson Humphries’ name was called on Tuesday night with the second last pick of the national draft, few besides AFL recruiters would have known his name outside of Western Australia.

Humphries, 20, had received a positive call from Geelong in the lead-up, but even he was surprised he was taken in the national draft instead of Wednesday’s rookie drraft

So much so that his mother didn’t watch her son get drafted – she didn’t even realise it was on.

“Mum was a bit annoyed at me that I didn’t let her know about it,” Humphries chuckled.

Humphries wasn’t watching the draft either. He found out while he was on the training track with his Swan Districts teammates.

Humphries’ name being called capped an incredible rise that was appeared no chance of happening 12 months ago when he was stuck in the WAFL reserves.

A West Coast Next Generation Academy graduate who was a fair way off the pace in his draft year of 2021, Humphries returned to Swan Districts and didn’t set the world on fire in 2022.

By his own admission he was unfit and needed to get to work.

Swan Districts’ pre-season involved a stack of running, which was just what Humphries needed, and he also hired a running coach that helped unlock his speed.

The hard work in the off-season and a Swan Districts coach Greg Harding’s call to move him into the midfield paid dividends, seeing Humphries dominate the start of the WAFL reserves campaign.

It led to a WAFL senior debut for the Swans in round eight, which allowed his elite kicking on both sides and turn of step to be put on show at state league level.

AFL interest followed and he was invited to the WA state combine, where he ran a promising 2km time trial time of 6:57 minutes.

Lawson Humphries ran a time of 6:57 minutes in the 2km time trial at the WA state combine. Picture: Theron Kirkman/AFL Photos

Humphries returned to the WAFL reserves later in the season, tasting premiership glory with the Swans, and the rest is history.

“The performances this year were more memorable than in the early years,” Geelong recruiter Stephen Wells said hours after he took Humphries with pick 63.

“He’s played a lot better this year, he has really developed. Wasn’t really a consideration for us as a draft a couple of years ago, but this year he is.”

Humphries hopes his selection can inspire other mature-agers to never give up on their AFL dream.

“I think back to a year ago, I was a bit overweight, my running was so average,” Humphries said.

“Natural talent can only get you so far, the difference between making it to the AFL and not for me seems to be hard work, to be honest.

“There are so many blokes that are more talented probably than I am but they wouldn’t work as hard as I would.

“So it’s about getting to work, work really hard, and if you put natural talent and work ethic together it is going to be a pretty devastating combo.

“I’m super stoked for the WAFL, I think the state leagues I think get slept on a bit. Especially mature-age prospects, I think there are so many mature-age prospects around the country.

“Hopefully I can just be an example as to why mature-age recruits are to be more considered.”

And like many draftees who get taken via the untraditional route, there were doubters along the way.

”It is not obviously my whole motivation but it is always nice when you can work hard and you do silence people that might not think you have the ability to do something,” Humphries said.

Lawson Humphries in action for Swan Districts.

INDIGENOUS CULTURE

Humphries hails from Nyul Nyul country in northwest Western Australia and his Indigenous heritage has grown in importance as his life has gone on.

Learning more about his culture has gone hand-in-hand with his anthropology studies at university.

“As I’ve gotten older it’s become more of a priority in my life,” Humphries said.

“It’s something that I really, it means lot to me and I’ve decided to get involved in our land group meetings, trying to at least learn a bit more and I guess it goes hand-in-hand with my studies at Uni at the moment.”

Humphries grew up in Wickham and moved around a lot as a child, and boarded 1557 kilometres away at Hale School in Perth for four years.

That experience will hold him in good stead for the move across the country from Perth to Geelong – but the weather might take some adjusting to.

“I’ve been told by a few people that I’ll have to pack a lot of warm clothes. I think it might be a bit of a shock to start with but I’m sure I’ll get used to it,” Humphries said.

Originally published as Geelong draftee Lawson Humphries reflects on his rise from WAFL reserves