Son of a gun nominated for Eastern league Young Gun award

BAILEY Lambert, the son of former AFL star Craig, is out to make his own name in football. He’s this week’s nomination for the Eastern league Young Gun award.

Bailey Lambert boots a goal for Noble Park last Saturday. Pic:Jenny Quaife.

Bailey Lambert grew up in Brisbane and Sydney.

But a few years ago he gained an appreciation of his family’s ties to the Dandenong area.

On an AFL grand final weekend, his father, Craig, took him for a drive around the town, pointing out and talking about the places of his upbringing.

Lambert senior is one of Dandenong’s most famous football products. He played with North Dandenong juniors, winning a succession of best and fairests before going on to a distinguished league career with Richmond and Brisbane.

Later, he took on welfare roles with the Lions and GWS.

When Bailey was born in Brisbane in 1999, the Courier Mail newspaper pinged a pic of him with Craig and his mother, Melissa, a Lions scarf keeping him warm.

He was an early starter in Auskick. “I’ve played footy all the way through,’’ he said. “As long as I can remember it’s always been there.’’

A promising under-age player for Morningside and then Drummoyne, Lambert was in the Lions Academy and turned out for Redland in the NEAFL last season.

At the end of it, he decided to relocate to Melbourne and try out for Richmond’s VFL team.

That meant leaving his close family behind at age 18. The Tigers were mindful of the father-son connection but made him no guarantees. Still, more than once coach Craig McRae noted his dedication.

Proud parents Craig and Melissa Lambert with baby Bailey.

Two days before lists were due to be submitted to the VFL, Richmond told him he had made the cut. He’d been made to sweat.

“I was very, very nervous until they called it,’’ he said. “If I didn’t make it I was going to go back to Redland.’’

Lambert also needed a local team. Fittingly, he found his way to Noble Park, Greater Dandenong’s leading club. Richmond general manager Anthony Fagan pointed him there after speaking with Noble coach Mick Fogarty, who played with Craig Lambert at the South Melbourne Under 19s in 1984.

Bulls football manager Steve Coats goes back even further with Lambert senior: they played little league together in 1979.

And there was another link — Melissa Lambert’s parents, Richard and Noeline Williams, are long-time Noble members.

The onballer was quick to make an impression in the practice matches. “He’s a beauty,’’ Fogarty said in March, grateful for a late signing. “Really strong inside mid and a good user of the footy. Great kid too.’’

Last week Lambert produced his best game for the Bulls, kicking two goals as his father watched on from the balcony at the Moodemere St ground.

The day after he turned 19, he found out he was the Round 5 nomination for the Eastern league Young Gun award. “Nice one,’’ he said.

Bailey Lambert hitches a ride on the shoulders of Jonathan Brown during a Brisbane Lions premiership parade.

Lambert said his father had been a constant support.

“He really has helped me a lot,’’ he said.

“Big thing from him is, ‘The harder you work, the luckier you get’. You’ve got to push harder than everyone else. A lot of it’s not down to ability, it’s how hard you work.

“I think it’s helped that we’ve been hanging around AFL players pretty much all my life. You get to see what it’s like to be an AFL player.

“I’d like to get there one day, go as far as I can. Hopefully I can have a good year in the EFL and get a couple of VFL games and maybe push my name up.’’