By Marc McGowan
Anyone tipped to be the No.1 pick in the AFL draft would typically be the standout athlete in his family – but Sam Lalor’s clan is not like the rest.
The Bacchus Marsh bull, who is likened to Dustin Martin and even wore the Richmond champion’s No.4 on his back for GWV Rebels and Geelong Grammar, is the popular choice to join the Tigers on Wednesday night and be the dux of this year’s draft class.
Sam Lalor’s physical playing style and dual-position impact are often compared to Dustin Martin.Credit: AFL Photos
Rebels coach David Loader believes Lalor is the closest prospect he has seen to Martin, from his destructive fend-off to his dual-position impact, toughness, power, strength, marking and clean skills.
Lalor would be the Rebels’ second top pick in three years, behind GWS forward Aaron Cadman, and could headline a record haul for the country club. Jonty Faull, Ollie Hannaford, Jack Ough, Rhys Unwin and Floyd Burmeister are among the hopefuls in this year’s draft.
“The way I see it – it hasn’t happened yet, so I haven’t read into [the No.1 hype] too much. But if that happened; I’d be really privileged and grateful,” Lalor told this masthead.
“There’s still a long way to go, and I’ve got no idea what’s going to happen, so we’ll see on the night [but] it would be a dream come true [to wear Martin’s number at Richmond].”
Lalor has work to do to be No.1 in his own extended family, given his cousin Jordan Petaia represented the Wallabies at the last two rugby World Cups and is set to pursue an NFL career via the American sport’s international player pathway.
Lalor’s grandfather, Ray, played six games for Essendon in 1956, and he is also related to John O’Neill, who made 136 appearances for Geelong between 1954 and 1962.
The family also has an extensive cricket connection, including Lalor himself, who was a bull-at-a-gate batsman before focusing on football.
His cousin Jack plundered 94 for Northcote in Victorian Premier Cricket at the weekend and has played for Victoria’s second XI, while Jack’s brother Archie was the last player cut from Australia’s under-19 World Cup squad.
“It makes for pretty awesome backyard cricket,” Lalor said.
Lalor also counts cricket prodigy Ollie Peake as a close friend. The pair helped Geelong Grammar win back-to-back APS titles this year.
“I think that was my last hurrah [in cricket] for the time being, and I was pretty emotional actually,” he said.
“I didn’t get to play the last few games with injury, but to play a couple of games with ‘Peakey’ was pretty special because he’s one of my best mates. Hopefully, we’ll see him out on the ’G one day, on Boxing Day.”
Injury was an unfortunate theme in Lalor’s draft year.
He hyperextended his right knee late last year and that dragged into the pre-season – sidelining him from his week with Western Bulldogs as part of the AFL academy – then hurt his right hip playing cricket for Geelong Grammar, which kept him out of the early Talent League rounds.
A right ankle setback cost Lalor another month, and there was also a quad issue, but the biggest blow came in September when he suffered a season-ending grade three strain to his left hamstring tendon.
“It was tough because I haven’t had a base, and there was a lot of expectation through the year, especially going into the [under-18] champs, and I was under-prepared,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve been at my best all year.”
Lalor is firming as the player Richmond are likely to take with the coveted first draft pick.Credit: AFL Photos
Lalor’s torrid run means recruiters are mostly forced to project what he could become when assessing his place in this draft.
The consensus is the gifted teenager is worth the risk, although he will likely be eased in to whichever AFL club he lands at, much like George Wardlaw was at North Melbourne after repeat soft-tissue injuries in his draft year.
Loader is certain Richmond will be rewarded if they select Lalor and are patient.
“I would not be surprised at all if he goes No.1. As a 17-year-old, he was clearly the best prospect,” Loader told this masthead.
“Sam was only a pup then, but he bullied guys [on-field], and kept us in games. He’s a better person than footballer, and he’s a star of a footballer. He’s going to be super successful at whatever he does. I’m biased, but I reckon he deserves to be No.1.”
Lalor drew a cult following at Geelong Grammar, where he spent the past two years after previously attending St Patrick’s College in Ballarat. His father, Steve, one of 10 kids, said his son found that interest in him challenging initially, but had mostly handled it well with the support of family and friends.
They will be by his side again on draft night for the biggest moment of his life so far, then will unite again in Bacchus Marsh on Sunday for a belated and joint celebration of Lalor’s 18th birthday and his sister Eve’s 21st.
The Tigers have not given the Lalors – including Steve’s wife Caitlyn and two other children, Will and Ivy – any indication of their plans, but visited the family home during the recent school holidays.
“Sam’s worked pretty hard with his cricket and footy, and been very self-motivated, so hopefully, he’s about to reap a few rewards,” Steve said.
“We’ll need to be a bit mindful of keeping an eye out for him, and make sure there are good people around him. We will probably become known as the parents of the No.1 draft pick [if it happens].”
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