BELIEF VFL CATS STAR CAN MAKE JUMP
GEELONG is continuing to give
Cats VFL star Jackson McLachlan an AFL push, declaring there’s “no reason” why the small forward could not be drafted.
McLachlan is one of 27 players to have been nominated for the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal, which recognises the VFL’s most promising player.
The past 14 winners, including Richmond star Kane Lambert, have gone on to play AFL.
Geelong VFL operations manager
Nathan Tweddle said McLachlan remained one of the Cats’ most draftable prospects.
“We’ve actually had a number of other clubs ring and inquire about him,” Tweddle said.
“Last year was unfortunate that the season was cancelled and we didn’t get any football in. He’s one of those players that would have hurt but our big push for him now is that he’s at that age bracket where he’s 23, he’s still within his hit zone — his best footy’s in front of him — and we’re really pushing him to not give up on that dream of playing AFL.
“His last two seasons, whether it was 2019 or 2021, have been really consistent at VFL level.
“Our belief is if he puts together another really good body of football next year, that there’s no reason why he couldn’t be picked up.
“Even this year, there’s clubs that have been asking questions about him.
“I’d love to see him get an opportunity at any AFL club if it wasn’t at Geelong.”
McLachlan made nine VFL appearances this year and was named in the best players in three games.
Tweddle considered McLachlan an “outside chance” for the FothergillRound-Mitchell Medal.
He would be Geelong’s first winner since Jason Davenport in 2006.
“If he got picked up, it would more than likely be in a rookie position,” Tweddle said.
“He plays a very difficult role as a high half-forward. A lot of his games aren’t high possession games but the impact he has with his unrewarded running and his set-up at stoppages up the ground as a high half-forward, internally we rate that as high as anyone in our program.”