Roos summon Lachlan

By Marc McGowan
PAKENHAMbased football powerhouse Lachlan Hansen is hoping to break into the Kangaroos’ senior side straight away after being selected as the numberthree pick in Saturday’s AFL Draft.
The emerging keyposition player had long been touted as a topfive pick, but the big quandary was whether he would remain in Victoria or help continue the interstate dominance next year.
Victorian teams filled the top three spots in the draft, while picks four and five were owned by Brisbane and Port Adelaide respectively and Hansen had received a guarantee from the latter that it would take him if he fell to them.
The young tyro had said he was not fazed by an interstate relocation, but after being gleefully nabbed by the Kangaroos shortly after the draft began, his true feelings arose.
“I hadn’t really spoken to the Kangaroos since draft camp, so I didn’t have any expectation of going there, but seeing as I have, it’s awesome,” Hansen, 18, said.
“When you actually get down to it, I didn’t really want to go interstate and now I’m in Melbourne and I’m ecstatic.”
It is the culmination of an extraordinary last few years for him, which has involved a premiership with TAC Cup under18 side Gippsland Power, a tour of Ireland with the Australian Institute of Sport and AllAustralian selection at the AFL under18 Championships.
Kangaroos’ coach Dean Laidley is enamoured with Hansen’s potential and believes he has every chance of making an early debut.
“It’s not often that you get keyposition players that come along that can play back or forward and have the athletic qualities that Lachlan has,” he said.
“I thought he was a genuine country boy that had a love for the game and had a real competitive spirit. You box all that up and you are going to get a very good package.”
He was surrounded by wellwishers on Saturday, but Hansen is keen for the hype to end and the hard work to begin.
“I’d like to think I can play AFL straight away,” he said.
“I’d like to play a few games, if not all of them. I have set myself pretty high standards and I’d like to play AFL in my first year.”
Hansen’s laconic nature should hold him in good stead at the Kangaroos, where he will be faced with the reality that his idols are now his teammates.
“I’ve met Glenn Archer before, so I’m pretty keen to meet him again,” he said.
“He’s been an idol for me and I like the way he plays. It should be awesome.”
Hansen begins training today (Wednesday) and his transition to AFL ranks will be aided by senior Kangaroo Drew Petrie, who will be his roommate until Christmas.
“I am really thrilled for Lachie and I had a bit of a chat with him before and he was really happy to be coming to the Kangaroos,” Petrie said.