AFL Draft 2014: Lachie Weller ready to follow in brother’s footsteps and play at elite level
THURSDAY night’s AFL national draft on the Gold Coast was always going to be a small but important step on a long football journey for Lachie Weller.
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THURSDAY night’s AFL national draft on the Gold Coast was always going to be a small but important step on a long football journey for Lachie Weller.
Ever since he could walk and kick around a soft cloth black-and-gold Richmond footy, this has been his destiny.
The younger brother of former Gold Coast Suns midfielder turned St Kilda onballer Maverick Weller, Lachie is expected to be snapped up inside the top 20 selections at the annual AFL meat market.
As one of the most highly-rated midfielders in the draft, he has even been touted as a possible top 10 pick.
Regardless of when his named is called, Weller is relaxed about the proceedings at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, not far from his family home.
The Wellers moved from Burnie in Tasmania to Burleigh in 2011 to be closer to Maverick as he started his AFL career with the Suns.
Seeing his older brother trying to crack the big time from close range inspired Lachie to follow in Mav’s footsteps.
Lachie has ticked all the boxes so far this year. He was Queensland under 18 vice-captain, averaged 20 possessions a game for Southport seniors, played for the Gold Coast Suns reserves and the Allies representative team in the curtain-raiser on AFL grand final day when he collected an eye-catching 20 touches and two goals on the MCG.
He has been a part of the AIS-AFL Academy, a finishing school for the game’s next generation.
Weller also trained with the Gold Coast Suns seniors last summer when he virtually stalked Gary Ablett and Jaeger O’Meara to get an insight into their approach to training.
Weller, 181cm and 74kg, has been in the Suns Academy for three years but does not qualify for a Queensland zone selection which requires five years of residence.
So it will be open slather in the race for the quick, skilful and damaging outside midfielder who is capable of pushing forward to kick goals.
Thirteen clubs interviewed him at the recent AFL Draft Combine in Melbourne with the likes of Richmond and Collingwood believed to be the keenest on Weller who had the third lowest skinfold results among the draft hopefuls.
“I had plenty of interviews but the clubs don’t give much away. I’m still pretty positive about everything,’’ Weller said.
“You don’t get a choice where you go but blokes in the draft know that’s the situation. You take any opportunity you can get. I’m fine with moving anywhere.
“You get looked after no matter where you go so I’m ready to go anywhere and make the most of it.
“Mav has told me that you just have to be yourself and work hard. Everyone has got talent but it’s the little one percenters and the sacrifices that will separate you from the rest.
“It’s hard to crack a spot in an AFL midfield straight away so I’m happy to play anywhere on the ground.’’
Weller said the move to Queensland from Tasmania had helped his chances of getting noticed and being drafted.
“I’ve loved my time in Queensland. It is a good standard of footy. The harder and bigger grounds really suit my style of football. The quicker, the better for me,’’ he said.
Being the younger brother of an AFL player has helped too.
“Recruiters always look at family backgrounds and things like that so I think it is an advantage,’’ he said.
“Having lived with Mav for a year when he was in the AFL system, you see first-hand what they go through and how they prepare and that will hold me in good stead too.’’
Weller’s Queensland teammates Matthew Hammelmann and Matthew Uebergang, both tall forwards, have strong chances of being drafted while Liam Dawson and Harris Andrews have already been taken by the Lions as Academy selections.
Originally published as AFL Draft 2014: Lachie Weller ready to follow in brother’s footsteps and play at elite level
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