Geelong Falcons talent Josh Lindsay on winning U17 futures medal and the former AFL players who have shaped him

Josh Lindsay’s lethal left boot was on show on grand final day, and he received a medal honour. The Falcons product reflects on that and two former players who have helped shape him.

Josh Lindsay was best-on-ground for his side in the U17 futures game. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Playing on the MCG on grand final was a dream come true for Josh Lindsay, but he certainly wasn’t overawed on the big stage.

Lindsay entered the under-17 futures grand final curtain-raiser, showcasing the top 2025 AFL Draft prospect from across the country, wanting to take the game on.

“They are big on playing to your strengths so I thought confidence is probably the biggest thing if I kick well and use the ball well, I’ll end up having a good game,” Lindsay said.

And he didn’t disappoint on that front.

Playing on a wing, the Geelong Falcons talent continually bit off daring kicks into the middle of the ground and his lethal left boot kept pulling them off in front of rafts of recruiters.

Two of those came during his side’s dramatic final quarter comeback, storming home from 25 points down to win by seven as Team Heppell kicked five consecutive goals in the space of 12 minutes.

Josh Lindsay spots up an option for Team Heppell. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Lindsay bends one around the corner. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

There were no shortage of contributors for Team Heppell but none had more impact than Lindsay, who was awarded the medal as his side’s best player, tallying 20 disposals, 18 kicks at 89 per cent efficiency and seven marks.

“I just thought take the game on and hopefully it comes off, and it did, so I was happy with that,” Lindsay said.

“(The comeback) came out of nowhere actually, I don’t know how we just kept kicking goals and Archie Ludowyke kicked the winner I think so that was pretty unreal. It was a really good experience.

“It was probably one of the best days of my life. The opportunity to play on the ‘G and to play on grand final is pretty special.”

Lindsay got to do it with his close friend and Geelong Grammar teammate Ben Rongdit, a Geelong Next Generation Academy member, only this time he was pitted against him.

The defender collected eight touches but had more impact than that, showing his athleticism with a one-handed pluck on the wing.

“He is one of my best mates, I go to school with him and he has had a bit of an injury interrupted year so for him to come back and play on the weekend. Obviously I wasn’t on the same team but the way he goes about it is pretty special,” Lindsay said.

“He is a pretty good player, he is going to keep building as the year goes on and the pre-season. They (Cats fans) should be excited about Benny.”

Lindsay started his junior career with Leopold, where his father Scott helped craft his kicking weapon as coach, before moving to the successful Newtown & Chillwell side coached by triple premiership Cat David Wojcinski.

Just as Wojcinski backed his own run and dare, he helped inject Lindsay with confidence throughout his junior years.

“They (Newtown) have been big for me, probably moved there when I was 13 and played in a few premierships. They have been really good for my development, especially David Wojcinski, he has been coaching me since I was pretty young so learnt a lot from him,” Lindsay said.

“I think the main thing was he had lots of trust in my game and really encouraging me to continue on backing myself in with my ability.”

Since then it has been another former AFL player, Geelong head of football Troy Selwood, who has played a key role along with Geelong Falcons coach Paul Corrigan and his parents.

A diligent youngster who prides himself on his off-field preparation and loves his cooking, his specialty is spaghetti bolognese, Selwood has helped him ease the pressure.

The former Brisbane player was also part of Geelong and Collingwood’s recruiting teams, allowing him to impart knowledge of what clubs are looking for onto AFL draft hopefuls like Lindsay.

Josh Lindsay being awarded the best player for Team Heppell in the AFL Futures exhibition game this morning.
Shaping as a serious draft prospect for 2025… pic.twitter.com/qcuaMpJeqV

— Troy Selwood (@TroySelwood) September 28, 2024

“I came to Grammar probably pretty strict and I didn’t want to get much wrong with my preparation,” Lindsay said.

“Like the night before if I got home late I would be stressing out a bit, but he definitely relaxed me down a bit and as the year has gone on that has probably been one of my biggest improvements.”

Another person who has shaped him off the footy field is U19 Cricket World Cup winner Ollie Peake, with Lindsay playing alongside Peake and top-10 prospect Sam Lalor in back-to-back APS cricket premierships for Geelong Grammar.

“He is insane, I learnt a lot off ‘Peakey’. Just the way he prepares and for his sport in cricket it is something I can really learn off. I love the way Peakey goes about it, he is a pretty special player,

“(Sam) is a gun athlete, I don’t know what he’s better at, cricket or footy.”

But cricket might have to take a back seat this summer as he prepares for his draft year, which is looking very promising after his grand final display.

Originally published as Geelong Falcons talent Josh Lindsay on winning U17 futures medal and the former AFL players who have shaped him