‘Freakish’ Eagles small forward Lachlan McGregor grabs his second chance at SANFL glory

WHEN pint-sized forward Lachlan McGregor received an offer from Eagles coach Michael Godden he knew he might not get another one like it.

WHEN pint-sized forward Lachlan McGregor received an offer from Woodville-West Torrens coach Michael Godden over summer he knew he might not get another one like it.

Four years earlier, the talented 173cm goal sneak walked away from SANFL football disillusioned after playing only a handful of league matches in three seasons at Glenelg.

“Godsy said to me that if I came out, put in a full pre-season and played well in the trials he’d give me a crack at league footy,’’ McGregor recalls.

“I’ve got to thank him for giving me a chance.”

Three games into the season, and McGregor is repaying the faith, having kicked 11 goals in three games to sit second on the SANFL goal kicking table.

Not bad for a bloke who has spent the past four seasons playing for Langhorne Creek, but Godden’s wasn’t really taking a gamble when he gave McGregor a second chance.

The Eagles mentor was Glenelg reserves coach during McGregor’s time at the Bay and knew better than anyone what the small forward was capable of.

“I don’t think his (start to the season) would surprise anyone who saw him as a young man,’’ Godden said.

“He’s got freakish ability.”

By his own admission McGregor, now 22, lacked mental maturity during his time at the Bay.

But he was also a victim of the fact Glenelg was the most settled side in recent SANFL history during his years there and opportunities were fleeting.

He walked from the competition and initially didn’t look back but it was the experience of his former house mate — now Melbourne player — Mitch Clisby that made him reconsider whether his decision to leave the SANFL was the right one.

Clisby, McGregor and Taylor Walker grew up together in Broken Hill and all came down to Adelaide to have a crack at footy at roughly the same time.

Walker found himself on an Adelaide Crows scholarship by age 16 but Clisby, like McGregor, was overlooked by AFL clubs as a teenager and spent several years at North Adelaide.

In 2012, everything changed when he had a breakout season for the Roosters and was rookie-listed by the Demons.

McGregor was living with him at the time and saw how quickly a player’s footy fortunes could change.

“I was just rapt for Mitch,’’ McGregor says.

“I guess it also made you think that if he could get picked up at age 22, or 23, there’s always a chance.

“It definitely helped me decide to go back and give it one last crack and see what happens but at the moment I’m just concentrating on trying to play league footy.”

McGregor is under no illusion that AFL football is a very long way off, especially given how scarce players of his height are in the national league.

But anyone who saw his six goal Eagles debut against Central in round one would agree that stranger things have happened.

The forward possesses elite speed and a huge vertical leap, and uncanny ability to read the ball in the air and off packs.

It was these qualities Godden was referring to when he used the word “freakish” to describe McGregor.