Lachlan Gulbin on how Allies snub, academy days inspired him to Gold Coast Suns list spot

Everyone had heard of Gold Coast’s academy star Leo Lombard by the time the AFL draft arrived. But Lachlan Gulbin? His path to the AFL was a lot more unconventional.

Could Gold Coast’s off-Broadway rookie pick-up who did not even feature at the U18 National Championships be the missing piece to Damien Hardwick’s forward line?

Lachlan Gulbin certainly hopes so.

While the whole world knew about No. 9 pick Leo Lombard from a long way out, his Suns Academy teammate, Gulbin, quietly toiled in the background — eager to prove he was worth an AFL lifeline.

Snubbed of a place in the Allies for the U18s this year the Burleigh product’s path to the draft could not have been more different than Lombard’s, who was awarded the Larke Medal as the National Championships’ most valuable player.

Despite being overlooked for the key talent pathway program, Gulbin was still picked up by the Suns as a Category B rookie last week.

Lachlan Gulbin playing for the Suns U18 Academy. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos.

Gulbin on the track after being drafted. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

After six years in the Suns Academy and 10 VFL games last season, the 18-year old-had shown enough for his boyhood club to give him a chance.

“I’ve basically done my whole junior footy through here. It’s nice to finally graduate from (the academy),” Gulbin told this masthead.

“(Being an academy player) has helped me so much. I feel like I’ve already been an AFL player for a year, having trained with them last year and going through the VFL program. The transition has been really smooth and it’s a great pathway for a lot of up and coming players.”

Gulbin believes his Allies snub was actually a blessing in disguise; opening his eyes to how fickle an AFL opportunity can be if not taken with both hands.

“It just motivated me more,” he said.

“Obviously I felt I was deserving to be there. It motivated me to work harder and want it even more. I wouldn’t go back and change anything now.”

Draftees Asher Eastham, Cooper Bell, Leo Lombard and Lachlan Gulbin. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

The 187cm medium-forward averaged eight disposals, four tackles and a goal in his 10 VFL appearances for the Suns last season.

He kicked multiple goals in three of those games and impressed the Suns with his manic front-half pressure – exactly the kind of player Hardwick loves to feature in his forward line.

Gold Coast may be stacked with first-round talent but that has not stopped rookies from playing themselves into starting roles in the past.

Last year both Bodhi Uwland and Sam Clohesy became staples in Hardwick’s best-23 and the former, also a Burleigh junior, went on to finish runner-up in the club’s best and fairest.

“They’re a great inspiration for me,” Gulbin said of Uwland and Clohesy.

“I’m good mates with Bodhi, I did a few trainings with him. (His success) had made me hungrier and shown me what is possible.

“He’s a great person to work with, he always pushes me to my limits … it’s good to work with people who are fitter than you, it just helps you so much.”

Originally published as Lachlan Gulbin on how Allies snub, academy days inspired him to Gold Coast Suns list spot