Left or right, sunglasses and anthropology: The many sides of Geelong youngster Lawson Humphries
Even Lawson Humphries isn’t quite sure whether his left or right foot is better. And he wouldn’t know which he would go to for a shot at goal. It’s one of many sides to the rising star nominee.
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Even Lawson Humphries can’t really clear up the question.
The three-game Cat has slotted in so seamlessly into Geelong’s defence that he snapped up the AFL rising star nomination following a 23 disposal effort against Collingwood on Friday night.
Of those disposals, 19 were kicks, and Humphries went at 94.7 per cent efficiency, pinpointing targets on his left and right foots.
Teammates of the 21-year-old debate which foot he prefers and while Humphries said he was “born right footed”, he couldn’t answer which side was actually better.
“I think they do different kicks,” he said.
“If I am kicking a bit longer I think my left foot is a bit better but if I am kicking shorter, bullets kind of thing then I would rather kick on my right.”
What if he was lining up a set shot at goal?
“That probably more depends on the angle,” he said.
It was Humphries’ father who drummed into the West Australian to kick on both sides and the young Cat wants to follow his dad’s work off the field too.
“I would love to work in that kind of sector where you are liaising with traditional owners,” he said.
“I think it is probably pretty intimidating for a lot of Aboriginal people and you are trying to work with these big companies and I guess having an Aboriginal person speaking to them will make it a lot easier.”
The biggest adjustment for Humphries since the Cats plucked him from WAFL club Swan Districts with the 63rd pick in last year’s draft has been the harsh Victorian winter.
He said Parfitt’s cooking, specialising in a smoked tomahawk steak, certainly helped: “it was the best thing ever”.
Luckily, the cloudy, cold winter has worked in Humphries’ favour.
After taking six months off to adjust to living in Victoria – initially with teammate Brandan Parfitt – Humphries will resume studying anthropology and sociology next week.
Once football is finished, he would like to work in cultural heritage, with his father currently in the field with mining giant Rio Tinto.
He was snapped on Geelong’s social channels before the Collingwood game wearing a huge pair of sunnies in the rooms, but that was because he has pterygiums in his eyes, leaving him more susceptible to bright light.
A condition brought on by overexposure to the ultraviolet suns rays, pterygium is an overgrowth in the eye also known as surfer’s eye.
“I think because I was always outside running around and playing sport so I was in the sun 24/7 and I think my eyes just got caught up in that regard, that’s why I wear (sunglasses),” he said.
Perhaps his only misstep against the Magpies was finding himself beneath high-flyer Jamie Elliott as he took the mark of the day in front of goal.
“I have had a lot of people message me saying ‘step ladder’ and giving me a bit of strife,” Humphries said.
“It was a good mark and I am just one of many that have unfortunately been under there.”
It took until round 16 for Humphries to earn a debut, despite slotting in seamlessly to Geelong’s VFL side.
His call up set off a “big, big operation” as he scrambled to find tickets and hotel rooms for 35 friends and family making the long trip from the west, including from his tiny home town of Wickham.
“It worked out well that my family found out and they made the trip over but a few of my old teammates at Swan Districts had a bye that week so they headed over too,” he said.
“Mum is pretty last minute, she is not too organised so right before she was getting there she would say ‘oh this person is coming as well’.
“So I would have to book another room. It was pretty hectic to be honest but I am glad it all worked out.”
Unsurprisingly, Humphries is now in some planning for when the Cats travel to Perth to face Fremantle in round 22.
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Originally published as Left or right, sunglasses and anthropology: The many sides of Geelong youngster Lawson Humphries
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