Lachlan Hogan will trade the ‘Big V’ for the ‘Giant G’ after being selected in the GWS under-16 academy squad for the 2022 NAB AFL National Development Championships.
From Moama, Hogan has been playing for the Magpies and Bendigo Pioneers this season and thought he would play for Vic Country.
Instead, he will take to the field for the Giants — something that came as a bit of a surprise.
“I’ve done all my rep stuff so far with Victoria and I was hoping that this year would be my chance to play for Vic Country, that is what I was really aiming for at the start of the year,” Hogan said.
“I wasn’t picked for that, but the Bendigo Pioneers general manager gave me a call and said ‘you have been put in the NSW system instead’.
“I’m looking forward to playing for NSW. I’m pretty excited, it will be a good chance to showcase my footy up there.”
The 16-year-old is one of 40-odd individuals selected for the GWS squad, with 23 players chosen for each round.
Hogan hasn’t trained with the GWS academy yet, and if he is selected for Saturday’s opening game against Sydney, it will be the first time Hogan has even met any of his new teammates.
Despite the unique lead up, Hogan said he was ready to go for Saturday.
“I’m really looking forward to it, even though I haven’t met anyone up there,” he said.
“I’m just embracing the opportunity to go play up in Sydney.”
It has been a mega year for Hogan. The youngster has also played for the Pioneers, captaining the side in their last game, and he also made his senior debut for Moama against Barooga.
Hogan said he was thrilled to play senior footy for the Magpies.
“I was really pumped to get to do that, I thought it was the cherry on top,” Hogan said.
“That’s what I have really been striving for in the last couple of years.
Hogan played against former AFL player Jack Trengove in his senior debut against Hawks, while also playing against Mulwala and Numurkah.
“I was pretty happy with how I went,” he said.
“Hopefully next year as a top-age 17s player I can play a little more senior footy, and hopefully this year when I come back to Moama I get to have another chance at it.”
This is the first year that GWS has had their own rep side, with previous years having one combined NSW/ACT team.
GWS will take on Sydney on Saturday June 18, before facing the Gold Coast on July 4 and Brisbane on July 8.