AFL mid-season draft 2024: Geelong Falcons forward Will McLachlan picked by Brisbane as other Geelong locals miss out

A Geelong Falcons talent’s AFL dream has been realised at mid-season draft, and he could play sooner than first thought. But several Geelong products were left on the board.

Will McLachlan is now a Lion. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos

Will McLachlan has been flying for marks all season with the Geelong Falcons, and soon he will be flying 1800km away from his hometown of Colac.

The 185 centimetre goalkicker joined Brisbane with the sixth pick of the mid-season draft on Wednesday night, becoming the first Colac Tigers player since Cooper Stephens in 2019 to be added to an AFL list.

After returning to the Falcons as an over-age player this season, the dangerous forward capped a stellar start to the season with a bag of six goals days before the mid-season draft.

McLachlan told this publication that a promising finals series last year gave him the confidence to take his game to another level, booting 26 goals in six matches in 2024.

He had spoken to at least eight clubs in the lead-up, and Hawthorn loomed as a potential suitor at pick five.

When the Hawks chose West Australian key forward Jasper Scaife, the Lions pounced with the very next selection.

The 19-year-old nominated for a longer-term contract, meaning he will be at Brisbane until at least the end of 2025.

And with the Lions’ injury toll, including a season-ending blow to high-flyer Lincoln McCarthy, the 185 centimetre McLachlan could be called on soon.

Will McLachlan has been a high-flyer this season. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

McLachlan kicked 26 goals for the Falcons this season. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

“Obviously we have lost ‘Linc’ and he has got some similar traits to Lincoln, so we hope he can come in and play that sort of role that Linc has been able to play for us over the last few years just so well,” Brisbane recruiting manager Stephen Canole said on the mid-season draft broadcast.

“It is a good story for Will, after missing out on last year’s draft he has worked really hard to get himself back. his year with the Falcons has been a credit to him.

“He has got some special traits in terms of his ability to be a multifunctional forward, he can sort of impact in the air and he is so quick at ground level so I think he will add to that group.”

Already decked out in a Lions polo on the broadcast, McLachlan said it still came as a surprise.

“I’m definitely ready to relocate and I can’t wait to get into it,” McLachlan said.

“I had a meeting with them at home and they were all good and it was all looking pretty good after the meeting.”

Four other prospects from the Geelong region completed AFL medicals but unfortunately things didn’t fall their way.

McLachlan’s Falcons teammate Joe Pike, Geelong VFL forward-mid Tobyn Murray, who has played with McLachlan since he was a junior at Colac, athletic Anakie talent Ajang Kuol mun and St Mary’s export Matt Ling were all left on the board.

Falcons wingman Liam Kershaw also had interest from Essendon in the lead-up.

It is certainly not the end for them, though.

Kuol mun met with three clubs before the draft, and one of those didn’t have a pick: Geelong.

It means the rapidly improving ruckman can continue to develop under their watch as part of Geelong’s VFL progream and remains on offer for the Cats at the end of the year.

That’s if other clubs don’t pounce on the 205cm South Sudanese prospect first.

Geelong also took a liking to Pike, as they did at the end of last year when they interviewed him in the lead-up to the national draft.

Pike has come on in leaps and bounds since then, as his eye-catching VFL debut for the Cats a fortnight ago proved.

St Joseph’s product Kershaw is well-placed to represent Vic Country at the national championships after missing out on selection last year.

Originally published as AFL mid-season draft 2024: Geelong Falcons forward Will McLachlan picked by Brisbane as other Geelong locals miss out