Son of Buddha breaks into Falcons’ squad
LOCHLAN Hocking, the son of Geelong great Garry Hocking, will join the Geelong Falcons’ squad as a 19-year-old after moving back to the region from Adelaide.
Hocking, a half-back flanker, has played 22 games in the past two seasons for West Adelaide’s SANFL under-18s team, but was overlooked as a father-son draftee at November’s draft.
However, the late developer will be given every chance at the Falcons to prove to Geelong he could become an AFL prospect.
“He’s been playing pretty high-level football in South Australia and the other thing is, he’s Garry Hocking’s son, so we’ve got to have a look at him,” Falcons talent manager Mick Turner said.
“I’m not saying they’re treated differently, but fathersons, we want to have a look at them because of their pedigree.
“He’s played state-league footy over there, he’s a late maturer, he’s got a lot of development in him and as a father-son, Geelong want him in the system to have a look at him as well.”
Hocking has transferred his architecture studies to Deakin University’s waterfront campus and will join the Falcons’ squad of 70 by Wednesday.
“I’ve been in contact with Garry,” Turner said.
“Obviously he came back to Melbourne last year to work for Collingwood but the family was still over there because he (Lochlan) started architecture and the girls started uni.
“He (Lochlan) is going to do architecture at Deakin, down at the waterfront, and the girls have been relocated to uni here, so the family is moving back to Armstrong Creek.
“He’ll be over on Monday, will probably come down for an induction and have a bit of a look, then start with us on Wednesday.
“We’ll give him every chance to make our list.”
Turner described Hocking as a tough back flanker who could develop into a midfielder for the Falcons.
“He’s apparently pretty tough — if he’s like his dad he will be,” he said.
“Every kid is picked on talent, so he wouldn’t be in our program unless he had talent. But like all our father-sons, we give them every chance.”