Former sparky Lachie Sullivan ignites Collingwood in his AFL debut

Having been overlooked in eight AFL Drafts and spending years as an apprentice, a debutant has made a stunning impact at the MCG.

Lachie Sullivan was overlooked for no less than eight AFL Drafts and had spent the past six years working on an apprenticeship while toiling in footy’s lower ranks.

On Friday night in front of 88,362 fans — the biggest home and away crowd ever between these teams — the mature-age recruit nailed a goal with his first AFL kick and helped turn Collingwood’s mammoth clash with old rival Carlton on its head.

Trailing by 19 points in the second quarter, Sullivan’s injection proved pivotal as the Pies rallied for a 12.13 (85) to 12.7 (79) win that reignites their season.

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A 180cm midfielder, Sullivan had surely given up on his AFL dream despite winning consecutive best and fairest awards for Footscray in the VFL in 2022 and 2023.

The calls from AFL clubs still refused to drop until Collingwood finally gave the budding electrician a lifeline via this year’s pre-season supplemental period after impressing in trials.

With stars Jordan De Goey and Tom Mitchell ruled out of the huge match-up with the Blues due to injury, the 26-year-old Sullivan was named as the substitute and immediately made an impact.

Thrown into the fray in the second quarter after Beau McCreery was subbed out with concussion, Sullivan managed to join the club of players to nail a goal with their first AFL kick.

Sullivan showed no nerves as he slotted a goal with his first AFL kick. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The debutant was then mobbed by his teammates. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

When Jamie Elliott moved the ball forward in the Collingwood 50m arc it dropped to Harvey Harrison, who gave a handball to Sullivan.

He then lived the dream when he snapped truly with his right boot to send the crowd into raptures as he was mobbed by just about every Collingwood player on the ground.

It also came with the Pies trailing by 14 points and helped spark an incredible turnaround as Collingwood kicked the last four goals of the half to take an 11-point lead into the main break.

“Here he is, the first-gamer!” James Brayshaw screamed in commentary. “What a moment. What a moment. Lachie Sullivan.

“How good, 26 years of age, he’s waited forever. That is so brilliant.”

Matthew Richardson then called a replay of the magic moment.

WHAT A MOMENT! 🥹

After missing out on eight drafts and being signed only 78 days ago, Lachie Sullivan kicks a goal with his first kick in @AFL 🖤🤍

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) May 3, 2024

Sullivan's family erupt after the goal. Photo: Fox Sports

“Well how good is this, 26 years of age in your first game of AFL footy,” he said.

“Looked composed, absolutely nailed it. His teammates all get to him, they know how special that is, how long he’s had to wait.”

“Everybody got a thrill out of that, except for the Blues fans,” Brian Taylor added.

Sullivan wasn’t finished, as from the next passage of play he got a free kick for high contact and found Patrick Lipinski, whose forward 50m entry was marked by Mason Cox.

The American-born Cox kicked the goal as the debutant made another key impact.

“Amazing scenes. Down two points here now and the ignition happened really when Sullivan came onto the ground,” Taylor said.

“It’s given everyone a new lease of life for the Collingwood side.”

Sullivan was involved once more late in the half, handing off a perfect handball to Oleg Markov, who found Lachie Schulz for another mark and goal as Collingwood took the lead for the first time since the opening term.

In a seesawing second half, the lead changed hands four times and the scores were locked with less than three minutes left before Nick Daicos kicked the sealer for the Pies.

WHAT DID WE JUST WITNESS?#AFLBluesPiespic.twitter.com/vmjzywUNto

— AFL (@AFL) May 3, 2024

“We had some superstars out this game, but our ability to have that next-man-in mentality, we had Lachie Sullivan debut,” said Nick Daicos, who won the Richard Pratt medal for best on ground.

“I was on the bench when he kicked his first goal.

“It felt like I welcomed him onto the ground, said ‘good luck’, and next thing he was kicking a goal with his first kick.

“The perseverance, it’s such a great story. It’s been seven or eight years he didn’t get drafted, but he’s come in and played an integral role for us in front of 90,000 fans. It’s pretty special.”

Sullivan finished with 10 disposals, five tackles, four clearances and that goal on a night he and his family will never forget.

On Fox Footy after the game, Nathan Buckley put it to Collingwood great Scott Pendlebury that Sullivan’s goal “lifted the whole team”.

“It certainly felt like that out there,” Pendlebury said. “It’s just great when a guy like that, who’s worked so hard, gets his chance.

“He comes on and kicks a goal and everyone, no matter what position they were in, had to get around him and everyone was so happy for him.

“It felt like our love and passion for each other grew in that moment.”