Hansen jumps at Roos

By Marc McGowan
LACHLAN Hansen’s family breathed a collective sigh of relief when the Kangaroos selected the former Nar Nar Goon footballer with the third pick of the AFL draft on Saturday.
His parents, Thor and Crena, had watched as their talented son received overtures from all and sundry in AFL ranks and feared the worst – an interstate invasion.
“From my point of view, it probably wouldn’t have mattered where he went,” Thor said.
“Just to play AFL football is fantastic, but obviously we are delighted that he is staying in Melbourne.”
Hansen had long been regarded as a key player in the socalled ‘super draft’, but the laidback youngster has not let it faze him.
“I’ve just kept a level head; I don’t look into it that much,” he said.
“I don’t read the papers much. I don’t want to get a big head.”
It is a remarkable feature of the strapping 197cm from Pakenham that he can remain grounded and Thor readily admits it is he who does the bragging on his son’s behalf.
“I’m really proud of him. It’s a dream come true for him, but it’s also a dream come true for his family,” he said.
“Lachlan is the main one, but we all get to share in it as well.”
The leadup to the draft was not as smooth, however, with a sleepless Friday night all around.
“I woke up about three or four times, I think,” Thor laughed. “I could hear him mumbling, so I sent him a text message telling him to go to sleep!”
Hansen is one of four children in the family, including Sarah, 22, Astrid, 20 and Damon, 13.
“They’ve all been really supportive,” Thor said.
“His older sister, years ago, even before he started playing football, said ‘you’ll be an AFL footballer one day and you’ll be able to look after me’. It’s come true now, or at least the opportunity for it to happen.”
Damon is an aspiring footballer himself and is already taller than his father, while Sarah and Astrid have their own personal interest in Hansen’s ascent to AFL stardom.
“Astrid thinks she is going to go to the Brownlow and Sarah just thinks that Lachlan will look after her!” Crena said.
Despite the hype and pizzazz of the AFL draft, Hansen is still struggling to come to terms with his achievement.
“It still hasn’t really sunk in and probably won’t until I get down there and train with the Kangaroos,” he said.