LUKE’S DOGGED DETERMINATION
OF all the countless success stories from the famed Geelong Falcons football factory, there is one that stands out to long-time regional manager Michael Turner.
It is not Patrick Dangerfield, it is not Luke Hodge and it is not Gary Ablett — as incredible as all three have been since being drafted to their AFL clubs.
No, out of the more than 100 players to have been drafted or rookie drafted since the club started in 1992, the biggest success story for Turner — alongside Cameron Ling — is that of Western Bulldogs midfielder Luke Dahlhaus.
Standing 178cm tall, the former Leopold junior has always been fighting out of his division and his story embodies that of the Bulldogs perfectly.
He was famously overlooked by every club before the 2010 draft camp and it was only after Turner had convinced AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan to give him a shot that he was invited to the state screening camp.
But despite averaging 21 disposals and six tackles a game, being named in the TAC Cup team of the year and placing third in the Morrish Medal, clubs ignored him again on draft day.
It was not until selection 22 in the 2011 rookie draft that Dahlhaus was given his chance, and since then he has not looked back.
“He was always a great junior when he was 15, 16, 17, 18 and he just always worked very hard,” Turner said.
“I’ve seen players get drafted probably a lot easier than Luke did and go to AFL clubs and they think they’ve already made it, but when you get drafted it’s only the start.
“I always knew that in his case, and Cameron Ling and those sorts of players, that once they got their opportunity they would work their a--- off to be successful and he’s done that.
“I would say of all the kids who have come through our program, and obviously we’ve had great players like Dangerfield and Hodge and the rest of them, but the Luke Dahlhaus story is probably one of the greatest stories to ever come out of our club.”
Dahlhaus comes from strong footballing stock, with his dad, Mark, a two-time Mathieson medallist in the Geelong Football League.
The former Geelong West VFA player and St Albans and Leopold midfielder recalled this week the time he drove his son to Whitten Oval to talk to Bulldogs recruiters before the rookie draft, saying Luke came away from the meeting knowing he wanted to be a Bulldog.
But even after being taken by his team of choice, the early setbacks meant there was still doubt he would reach the top level.
“I can remember when he was interviewed for a rookie spot and at that stage he didn’t have his licence so I drove him up there and sat out in the carpark,” Mark said.
“When he walked out he said, ‘gee I’d love to play here’, and even though he was training at Geelong that week because Stephen Wells had asked him to train before the rookie draft, the Bulldogs had the pick before Geelong and the rest is history.
“But I remember when they had the 2011 team photo Luke said to me, ‘Dad, keep this because I’ll never be good enough to wear a Bulldogs jumper’, and then by Round 12 he made his debut.
“That was due to a few injuries but just his endeavour and they call him the Energizer bunny and he just loves the contest, so we’re very, very proud of him.”
Outside of the day-to-day grind of AFL football, Dahlhaus is doing a carpentry apprenticeship and has completed a business management course.
Mark says this has always been a fall back for him and he is keen to get into building management post football.
Family is still important to him, and tomorrow his parents will be at the game with his brother, Ryan, who captains Anglesea, and Ryan’s wife Sarah.
It his evident when Mark talks that there is a feeling the Bulldogs could achieve something nobody would have given them a chance of doing at the start of the finals.
But, like his teammates, everything Dahlhaus has done to this point — the long hours in the gym and on the training track, the strict diet and early nights — has been in preparation for tomorrow.
“Growing up through the Geelong Falcons, a lot of his Leopold mates at the time were partying and going out, and Luke was staying home or getting home by 10 if he was out, so he was pretty disciplined,” Mark said.
“At the time he was saying he was losing a bit of his youth but the rewards could be great, and sure enough here he is, so those sorts of sacrifices and his professionalism even back then with recovery and going to the beach was great.
“I suppose it’s always been his dream to play AFL and now he’s getting the chance to be a premiership player, it would be fantastic.”
Turner is a realist and knows not everybody who goes through the Falcons program will be drafted, but says those who do come to Highton Reserve are given every opportunity to reach their potential.
Like Mark, he reflects on what Dahlhaus has achieved and says the overriding emotion he feels for him is pride.
“He has probably exceeded my expectations but he has got the right attitude, he has made the most of his opportunities and he’s probably reached more than his potential,” he said.
“He has now come off being a forward pocket to a midfielder and if he wasn’t injured he would have been All-Australian.
“He was really on the edge and he was very close to not getting drafted so to get the opportunity to achieve what he has done has been a fantastic thing for him, so I couldn’t be more proud of him.”