Geelong West forward Lachie Horniblow on Giants recruits and departures and five-goal game as youngster presses for Falcons

A wave of Geelong West young guns and recruits are helping cover the loss of several departed stars. And one of those youngsters is putting his hand up for a Geelong Falcons recall.

Lachie Horniblow celebrates one of his 5 goals. Picture: Mike Dugdale

It was the matchwinning display that nearly didn’t happen.

Geelong West goalsneak Lachie Horniblow faced a fitness test on a hamstring injury morning of the Giants’ tight win over St Albans, and was ticked off despite being at around 60 per cent.

In just his 14th senior game, the 20-year-old put the Giants on his back with three of their last five goals in the second half – including the sealer – to spur them to victory at West Oval.

“I was nearly actually not going to play, I had to do a fitness test on Saturday morning because of an injury.

“The coach didn’t know if he was going to play me, but he had a bit of faith in me so I was lucky with that.

“(I was) probably like 60 per cent. It was a bit of um and ahing and did the fitness test on Saturday morning. I was pretty hungry to play because St Albans was actually the team I debuted against, so really wanted to play and I got through the fitness test.

“So I felt like I went all right and I was fairly happy with my game.

“We did need a few in the third. It wasn’t all me though definitely a team effort, the boys did really well.”

Lachie Horniblow takes a mark. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Horniblow is just one of Geelong West’s wave of promising young talent that have had more responsibility placed on their shoulders after the loss of several stars in the off-season.

Mathieson Medal runner-up Tanner Lovell, Kade Lovell and Jamieson Ballantyne – the latter who featured for Geelong’ VFL on Sunday – returned to their home club Portland, Emmanuel Ajang was picked up by SANFL club South Adelaide, and Tylar Watts headed to rival Leopold

The Giants added 13 players over the off-season, six of which played in the win over St Albans.

Horniblow conceded it has been a difficult adjustment, but praised the Giants’ recruiting drive that has strengthened their depth.

“(The off-season was) quite hard and challenging, players moving is always a challenge, but credit to the club,” Horniblow said.

“They recruited really hard, but we did lose four really good VFL players who came in and out of our side because they were playing VFL.

“But I think the 15 new players we got is really good for our numbers, good for our juniors.

“Credit to the club for replacing and recruiting, because I feel like it would be a lot harder if we just lost those boys and we didn’t get any new ones.”

Tanner Lovell finished second in last year’s Mathieson Medal. Picture: Mark Wilson

Horniblow highlighted a trio of recruits who have impressed him in midfielder Rory Parnell, Inverleigh premiership player Finn O’Keefe and intercept defender Noah Allen.

“Love how Rory he goes about it. Finn O’Keefe also debuted, huge young guys in the mids that just go hard at it,” Horniblow said.

“Noah Allen, he is one of the ones to look out for in the backline, he played an exceptional game, an intercept defender.

“Don’t know how many intercept marks he had but he had quite a few. He will definitely take mark of the year one year, he flies. He’s been really impressive.”

He also has big wraps on Oliver Maddalena — who has started the season in the reserves but booted 41 majors in 15 games for Torquay in under-18 division one last season — and 17-year-old Tom Handley.

“There’s also another one I’m really excited about, Oliver Maddalena. He came from Torquay, won the goalkicking in the under-18s,” Horniblow said.

“He was a little bit stiff to play in the ressies this week, but I definitely see him playing beside me in the forwards and really dangerous coming off a good year last year.

“Tommy Handley was one of the boys that really impressed me, only 17. Got dropped out of the Falcons, really good story, good kid.

“There was a few people watching him and he really showed what he was about, so proud of Tommy.”

Horniblow has been impressed by Tom Handley. Picture: Mike Dugdale

HANDLEY PRESSES FALCONS CLAIMS

Handley is pressing his claims for the Geelong Falcons squad after being cut 18 months ago.

The skilful midfielder-forward debuted for the Falcons’ under-16 side in 2023 and was part of the initial Falcons squad ahead of the 2024 season as a bottom-ager, but didn’t make the final squad.

Handley starred in the under-18 division one competition last year with 12 mentions in the best from 20 games and has taken that form into 2025.

The 17-year-old made his senior Geelong league debut in round one of this season and put in an exciting display alongside his two older brothers, David and Lachie, in their win on Saturday.

Geelong West under-18 coach Ben Rowe has seen his development first-hand and feels he is worthy of a spot on the Falcons list after a strong response since being left out.

David Handley, Tom’s brother, lays a tackle. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“You can tell from the game he played yesterday and the games he played previously through the U18s and senior footy that he belongs at that level,” Rowe said.

“From a skill point of view, from footy smarts, his game certainly stacks up to that level.”

“I think after being cut from the Falcons, you can really tell that he has knuckled down on his footy, trained hard, spent a lot of time with the senior group to try and better himself, and always open for feedback from my myself and from the senior coaching group as well.

“He is a fantastic young man, comes from a great West family.

“From a football point of view, he has elite skills and shows enormous leadership out on the ground as well for a young kid.”

The Geelong Falcons discuss the form of local junior talents weekly and have added the likes of Cooper Leach and Jett Elek upon recommendation from Grovedale and Lara respectively.

Falcons talent manager Jesse Drever says that they open to adding any player who they feel has the form and traits that can stack up in the Coates Talent League.

“We have got that track record now, we have got 10-12 people that are out watching community games and are speaking with clubs,” Drever said.

“The clubs can know that we know what they’re doing, we’ve got eyes on what they’re doing.

“Playing really well locally but having the kind of attributes and traits to be a Coates League player, which is a little bit different in terms of the profile.

“If we do see that, then we are absolutely always going to invite someone in and give them the chance to showcase what they can do.”

‘THE BIG HORN’

Port Adelaide gamebreaker Jason Horne-Francis has been dubbed ‘The Horny one’ by Channel 7 commentator Brian Taylor.

It comes with little surprise that Horniblow has copped similar nicknames growing up and at the footy club.

“I do cop it a bit, I copped it a lot in school,” Horniblow chuckled.

“I don’t mind it at all and I get around it, it is only a name and the boys love it. I don’t have a problem with it, I have a bit of fun with it.

“Does not phase me one bit but it is funny, nickname is ‘Horny’ or ‘the big horn’. Get around it.”

Originally published as Geelong West forward Lachie Horniblow on Giants recruits and departures and five-goal game as youngster presses for Falcons