‘He would be very, very proud’: Owen Lalor has praised the ACC finals performance of Calsher Dear

Despite being on the other side of the result, a Hawthorn father-son prospect has earned the ultimate praise from his coach after an electric Australian Catholic College finals series.

While it didn’t finish with premiership glory, Calsher Dear has earned the ultimate praise from St Bede’s coach Owen Lalor for an emphatic Australian Catholic College (ACC) finals campaign.

Dear, son of Hawthorn 1991 premiership hero Paul, dragged his side into the decider with a superb semi-final, before being among the best players on the ground in Wednesday’s heartbreaking defeat to Parade College.

Lalor commended the athletic key forward, not only for his two goals and handful of contested marks in the final, but his entire ACC stretch.

“If you watch his semi-final as well, he was the difference,” Lalor said.

“He pretty much wrestled us over the line in that semi, it was the same deal (as the grand final), his athleticism, his vertical leap, his hang time in the air – I love his hang time.

“He’s got long arms and legs which is a bit different to his dad, I remember his dad was thick and strong – Calsh is a bit more athletic and a hybrid.

“He takes the ball at his highest point, if he gets a run and jump it’s very hard to defend.

“He’s smart too, he knows where to lead and how to hold the space; he’s absolutely a talent.”

Owen Lalor loves Calsher Dear’s hang time when he flies for the footy. Picture: Mark Shvartsman

Calsher’s father Paul played 123 matches for the Hawks, winning the 1991 Norm Smith Medal, before his passing last July.

Lalor said Calsher’s performance would’ve brought a smile to his dad’s face.

“He came in this morning and, like all of them, he was gutted,” Lalor said.

“I had a word to him privately after the game about his finals series; he was our best finals player, I just thought he made a really significant impact in both games and nearly got us over the line yesterday, he certainly got us over the line in the semi.

“His dad would be very, very proud looking down on him… he would be extremely proud.

“All his family was there supporting him, they came into the rooms after the game, it was good seeing them.

“The loss of his dad was huge on him, I think he would be extremely proud of not only the way he played yesterday, but also last week.”

Alongside Dear, St Bede’s ruckman Brodie Finlay was also terrific.

His positioning, tap work and bone-crunching second-term tackle had the large crowd at Windy Hill murmuring.