Mums of Darcy Wilmot and Kai Lohmann reveal early years of Brisbane Lions players

Darcy Wilmot will line up for the Brisbane Lions in the AFL grand final – something that was written in the stars.

Mel Murphy, mother of Brisbane Lions defender Darcy Wilmot at home in Doreen before the AFL Grand Final. Picture Lachie Millard

Darcy Wilmot’s late father always believed he would play for a Queensland team, his family has revealed ahead of the much-anticipated Grand Final.

The Brisbane Lions attacking defender from Doreen tragically lost his father, Grant Wilmot – a former Collingwood VFL player – at the young age of 12.

As the 20-year-old prepares for his second grand final repping the Lions, his mother, Melinda Wilmot said he has fulfilled his father’s dream playing for a Queensland team.

“We used to go to Surfers Paradise quite a lot. And Darcy’s dad actually said that if he made it, he’d end up playing for the Gold Coast Suns, which is a bit ironic,” she said.

“His dad loved Queensland so we’d always travel up there.

“Darcy was only little. But he always said when Darcy got older, ‘oh no you’ll play for a Queensland team’.

“I am sure he would’ve been telling us that he was right all along.”

Darcy with his dad Grant.

Darcy Wilmot on the MCG ahead of the decider. Picture: Lachie Millard

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Darcy proudly plays with his father’s No.44 on his back. Ms Wilmott said his father would be extremely proud seeing how far his son has come.

“I am sure he would be talking everybody’s ears off. He’d be extremely proud of him,” she said. “He’d probably trying to be coach if he if he was still around.”

Ms Wilmott said she is extremely nervous ahead of the grand final but was planning on being there with his sisters to support him.

“We watch the replays about three or four times, if not more and try and get to as many games as we can,” she said.

But she said she was extremely proud of where has gone in the past few years.

Mel Murphy, mother of Brisbane Lions defender Darcy Wilmot at home in Doreen before the AFL grand final. Picture: Lachie Millard

“It’s unbelievable, because he was drafted at 17, so he’s like my baby, so I couldn’t talk about him without crying for about four or five months.

“People would ask how he was and I’d just start sobbing, it’s probably taken me longer to get over it than him.

“And, what he’s been through with his dad and lost him at a young age. He’s always been quite mature.”

Ms Wilmott said Darcy had big family support from day one.

A young Darcy Wilmot. Picture: Supplied

“Having older sisters they would help with taking and picking him up from training and games, both footy and basketball,” she said.

Meanwhile the mother of Lions’ rising star Kai Lohmann has described how proud she is to see her son in his first grand final, a year after he broke his collar bone, saying a lot can happen in 12 months.

Lohmann, 21, was at a crossroads in 2023 when he broke his collarbone in the VFL, keeping him out for the season.

Just over a year after his injury, his family are gearing up to see him in his first grand final. Having being taken with the number 20 pick in the 2021 national draft, this year Lohmann has a breakout season.

His mother Brooke Murray said she is extremely proud to watch her son play on Saturday.

“It feels very surreal to think that he’s playing in an AFL grand final at the age of 21 I guess,” she said.

Lions player Kai Lohmann with mum Brooke Murray.

Lohmann after his injury.

“It’s amazing because he did have a broken collarbone at the grand final last year, so obviously was unable to participate. So we watched the grand final.”

She said it was extremely heartbreaking not being able to watch him play last season.

“He was playing some really good football. So it was devastating, but not much you can do about it,” she said.

“A lot can change in 12 months.”

Ms Murray said he was always good at everything he did.

“He always wanted to be the best or play the best level that he could play at,” she said.