Could Kane Lambert make his AFL debut in the opening game of the 2015 season as Richmond faces Carlton?
The opportunity now awaits him after the former Williamstown, Northern Blues and Northern Knights player was elevated to the Tigers senior list.
Taken with pick 46 in the 2014 AFL Rookie Draft last December, Lambert has left no doubt that he is up to playing at the elite level after playing in all three of Richmond’s NAB Challenge matches and averaging 12 disposals a game.
“He's been really impressive,” Richmond coach Damien Hardwick told the club website.
“He's a mature-age prospect, so we always expected him to be a little bit further advanced than our first-year players.
“The way he's attacked his training, and the way he's fitted into the Club, has been outstanding.”
Lambert’s pathway to the AFL has been a long and winding, competing in the TAC Cup, VAFA and Peter Jackson VFL over the last five years.
Back in 2009 Lambert won the Northern Knights best and fairest award and was selected in the TAC Cup Team of the Year. The team featured 14 players that would be selected by AFL clubs at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft including the likes of Jake Carlisle, Gary Rohan, Tom Scully and Luke Parker.
Lambert however was not one of them.
After a handful of VAFA games in 2010, Lambert joined the Northern Blues in 2011 and started his journey to the AFL. Seven senior games in his first year increased to 17 in 2012 along with VFL state selection.
2013 was his standout year, winning the prestigious Fothergill-Round Medal for the best U23 player in the VFL, as well as finishing runner up in the J.J. Liston Trophy.
The awarding of the Fothergill Round Medal had seen the previous seven selections drafted in the year they were honoured with the title – such as Dean Towers, Robin Nahas and Michael Barlow- but it was not to be the case for Lambert.
Instead Lambert had to wait a further 12 months to get his chance, and the wait is now worth it.
Lambert was the second former VFL player to receive a rookie elevation before the AFL's Tuesday afternoon deadline, with former Coburg player Adam Saad gaining a spot on the Gold Coast Suns senior list.
See below highlights from Saad and Lambert in 2014:
Last Modified on 24/03/2015 09:42
