The young gun on the path to elite Aussie Rules and cricket career

Meet Sam Lalor, the next exciting young talent that will have to make the difficult choice between footy and cricket after All-Australian and state honours.

Sam Lalor is a footy and cricket young gun.

Cricket and football have a new exciting young talent to fight over.

Bacchus Marsh youngster Sam Lalor could be the next Brett Deledio, Mitch Marsh, Will Sutherland or Stephen Coniglio – forced to make a choice between two sporting passions.

He’s certainly on the elite talent pathway in both.

Lalor was named in the Under-16 All Australian team this week after an impressive national championships campaign with Vic Country.

A fortnight earlier, the 15-year-old – he turns 16 at the end of the month – was named in Cricket Victoria’s under-17 Emerging Players squad.

Sam Lalor in action for St Patrick's College in the Herald Sun Shield final.

Already 186cm and 78kg, the tug of war between Australia’s biggest sports will only intensify as he matures.

The St Patrick’s Ballarat student was named on a half-forward flank in the under-16 team of the tournament, across from likely Brisbane Lions father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft.

Lalor averaged 16.7 disposals (50 per cent contested), four clearances and four tackles.

He made his under-18 NAB League debut for GWV Rebels on Saturday, collecting 14 disposals, five tackles and a goal against the Eastern Ranges.

He backed up that performance on Wednesday in the senior Herald Sun Shield final as St Patrick’s went down to Whitefriars.

Described as a “powerful inside midfielder who excels at stoppages, using his acceleration, clean hands and vision to set up his team” he will be draft eligible in 2024.

The outstanding football season follows an exemplary cricket season.

Lalor made his senior debut for Bacchus Marsh in the Gisborne District association this season alongside cousin Archie.

The Lalor boys (from left) Daniel, Jack, Sam, Archie and Will.

Sam opened the batting and Archie opened the bowling for the Bulls in the Round 1 win over Gisborne.

Lalor would score his maiden First XI century in the Round 9 win over Sunbury Kangaroos, bringing up three figures in just 63 balls.

He represented Premier Cricket club Northcote in the under-17 Dowling Shield, finishing the tournament as the Dragons second highest run-scorers – behind brother Will – with 174 at an average of 43.50.

The top-order bat was also second highest run-scorer as Central Highlands claimed the under-16 Youth Premier League title.

Lalor finished the tournament with 347 runs at 49.57.

It led to his selection in a Cricket Victoria XI in the under-17 Bendigo Summer Series alongside the some of the best young talents in the state, including Mitch Jamieson, Ollie Peake and Harry Demattia.

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Across 45 matches, Lalor scored 1355 runs, including two centuries, at an average of 35.6.

After making two Third XI appearances last season, he is expected to make a full-time switch to Premier Cricket club Northcote this coming season, joining his cousins Jack and Daniel.

Jack is coming off a Premier Cricket Team of the Year season, while Daniel captained Vic Country Under-17s.

The Dragons had all five Lalor boys in green last season when Sam, Archie and Will played Dowling Shield with Jack and Daniel in the senior ranks.