While 15-year-old Lachlan Fogarty is a highly regarded basketballer, it seems the young Spotswood player is reaching new heights on the football field, having represented Victoria in the Under 15 Football Championships in Sydney last month.
Following in the footsteps of older brothers Matthew and Michael who have successful football careers with the Spotswood Football Club and Footscray VFL team, Lachlan was the only WRFL player to pull on the big V jumper in the national competition.
Having traditionally fielded separate Vic Metro and Country teams for the past 20 years, this season the representative team was combined into one powerhouse squad.
With one sole Victorian team, Lachlan said that competition to earn a position in the side was fierce, with just nine metro boys and sixteen country boys making up the final squad.
While there were three representatives from the neighbouring Essendon District Football League, Lachlan was the only WRFL player to make the cut.
Kicking off on July 19, five games were played over seven days with ice baths and rehab sessions the order of the day after each match.
In the initial game against traditional rivals South Australia, Lachlan was named best on field after a scintillating display in defence. As tradition would have it, Lachlan had to wear the special gold Victorian jumper to the team dinner that night in honour of his achievement.
After coming off the field with concussion early in the third game, medical staff forced Lachlan to miss game four as a precaution, before allowing him to return to play in the grand final against a tall athletic Queensland team.
The game was played at Spotless Stadium, the home of the AFL’s newest club, the GWS Giants. Again Lachlan was at his best and along with a very even, highly skilled and consistent team, Victoria was able to take home the trophy that had eluded them the previous year.
The match was of an extremely high standard with a number of AFL recruiting staff taking a keen interest in the young stars. Seven days, five games, five wins, and some friendships that may last a lifetime.
Last Modified on 14/08/2014 10:59