Geelong Grammar’s Sam Lalor is living the dream after being drafted by Richmond at pick one on Wednesday night.
The highly touted midfielder was widely predicted to be taken by the Tigers and that was the case.
Lalor was told by the Tigers in the lead up to the draft that he would go pick one.
“Found out on Monday night, had to keep it quiet,” he said the day after the draft. “Told some close friends and family, but to find out and everyone find out last night was special.
“I’m glad it’s over now.”
Lalor said his phone had blown up overnight with messages, including heaps from his new teammates.
Many of his new teammates were at Marvel last night to welcome him and the other draftees to the club.
Lalor said all of them made him a bit star struck.
“They were at the function last night and it was good to meet a lot of them, they were really nice to us,” he said.
“I think we are going to get into the club and have some really nice connection. It’s pretty early, even the boys who weren’t there were sending us messages and stuff.
“It’s pretty special.”
Lalor said he’s looking forward to getting into it.
“There’s obviously a lot of pressure, but I think with Richmond this year they’ve got a lot of picks, so not all the spotlight’s going to be on me, which is what I’m looking forward to,” Lalor told Fox Footy.
“And I think just getting into a really good club like Richmond is gonna be so good and I can’t wait.”
Lalor has put his hand up for Dustin Martin’s famous number four jumper and taken early comparisons to the retired Richmond legend in his stride.
He said he had yet to find out what number he would wear.
Lalor has modelled his game on triple-premiership great Martin and Collingwood gun Jordan De Goey, attracting attention at junior level with his powerful frame and knack of fending off opponents.
“It’s pretty hard to play like him, but I suppose some of the things I do on the field are kind of like him,” Lalor said of comparisons to Martin.
“He’s someone I’ve watched growing up, so I’d love to play like him.
“For me, I don’t look into it too much. I just can’t wait to get in there, chip away and work hard.”
Lalor’s local club, Bacchus Marsh held a draft night function along with the Bacchus Marsh Cricket Club.
He said it was pretty special to see.
“They loved it,” he said. “I received a video of the footy-cricket club in the rooms, they were up and about. They’ve been awesome for me, footy and cricket club, I can’t thank them enough.”
Lalor was one of six Tigers players who were picked up on night one of the draft.
The new number one pick said it was special to share the journey with them.
“Not all the spotlight is on me being a number pick, other boys with me, I can’t wait to see how we go, I’ve got a good relationship with all the boys, it’s very awesome.”
