VFL 2018: Tasmanian Jay Lockhart is making his mark in the VFL after receiving state combine invite

TENACIOUS Tasmania Jay Lockhart is off to the AFL state combine after a fine first season for the Casey Demons.

JAY Lockhart gave himself two years to see if he could cut it in the VFL.

He has needed only one.

In fact, Casey people will tell you it was apparent a few weeks into the season that the former Tasmanian was not only up to the standard, he would help set it.

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Lockhart, 22, had already committed to Casey by the time Garry O’Sullivan was appointed general manager of the club.

“I knew nothing about him,’’ O’Sullivan said.

“But I worked out pretty quickly someone had been doing their homework on him. He’s a beauty.’’

Jay Lockhart runs for the ball. Picture: Hamish Blair

Tassie connections to Casey kicked in for the right-footer, who attracts the tags “tough’’ and “tenacious’’ whenever his name is thrown up.

Last year at North Launceston Bombers he played under Tommy Couch, who signed with the Casey Demons as an assistant coach this season, only to withdraw because of his role at Tennis Australia.

Couch alerted Casey to Lockhart, as did former Demon Col Garland six months earlier when he returned to Tasmania for a weekend and saw Lockhart play, and dominate, for the Bombers.

New Casey coach Jade Rawlings, also a Tassie product, received glowing word too. He made the phone call that prompted Lockhart to pack his bags and head to Melbourne late last year.

And to go with his football prospects there was the promise of some work with the family of Melbourne assistant and ex-Casey coach Justin Plapp, another Taswegian who moved to the mainland to pursue his football.

Other VFL clubs were interested in Lockhart, no doubt because of his performance for the Tasmanian representative team against the NEAFL last year. He won the medal as Tassie’s best player.

Casey Demons coach Jade Rawlings. Picture: Hamish Blair

Twelve months earlier he shared the Bombers’ best and fairest and was selected in the team of the year. He was a seasoned footballer too, making his start in senior ranks at the age of 16.

Now, after a fine first season at Casey as a defender and midfielder, he’s getting more attention, gaining an invitation to the state combine in October.

“Yeah, pretty happy with that,’’ Lockhart said.

“It means your name is floating around out there, in a few conversations, which is exciting. “I’ve got a few weeks of tough footy to come so hopefully I can keep playing my role at Casey and pushing my name forward.”

Lockhart said there was a “massive’’ difference between Tasmanian and Victorian state football, noting VFL players were older and stronger — “back home there are lot of 16, 17, 18-year-olds running around’’ — and came out of the TAC Cup “all over’’ game structures.

Then there’s the intensity.

“There’s nowhere to hide. You can’t slacken off,’’ he said. “If you do, you’ll get found out pretty quickly. AFL players and quality VFL-listed players will run rings around you. You’ve got to make sure your mind is in it just as much as your body.’’

Lockhart and other players before him have relocated to Victoria in the past few years owing to Tasmania’s diminished pathway. In his case, he put his building apprenticeship on hold as he pursued his football. The AFL’s move to bring Tassie back into the TAC Cup and VFL fold pleases him.

Jay Lockhart gets the ball on the boot against the NEAFL last year. Picture: Patrick Gee

“The under-18 program probably hasn’t been the best for the last few years,’’ he said.

“I’m pretty excited for the 18-year-olds who will get to showcase themselves every week. That’s a great start, and then for the older guys who don’t want to move across they’ll get the chance to play top-end footy. Hopefully all of Tasmania jumps on like they did when the Devils were around and they support it more than they’re supporting AFL sides.’’

Former Western Bulldogs and Richmond football manager O’Sullivan calls Lockhart a “tough little package … a good, hard runner, very tenacious and, for a guy his size, a terrific mark’’.

“He’s very strong in the air. I won’t compare him to Brian Royal, but I remember always remember the way ‘Choco’ could mark the footy. And Jay can mark the footy. He’s strong and he’s got a good leap. It always takes my eye,’’ he said.

O’Sullivan has been taken with his leadership too.

“I see it on the bench, the way he talks to the boys when they come off, not over the top, just instructional, and it’s pretty impressive. That side of footy has grown, and if you don’t listen and learn you’re going to get found out, especially when you’re playing with AFL boys. You’ve got to be spot-on and know what you’re doing, because coaches will throw to players in a meeting without notice. You’ve got to be on your toes. And Jay soaks up everything. He really loves the education side of it.’’

Jay Lockhart set aside two years to prove himself in the VFL.

He might just get the chance to cut it at another level too.

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