Mature-age debutant proof that more AFL-ready players are out there

05/05/2024 08:05

Collingwood's phenomenal win over Carlton was a success on all fronts, as the Magpies nicked the Blues at the final hurdle, but it was debutant Lachlan Sullivan who shone in his first run-out at AFL level.

As teammate Beau McCreery went out concussed during the second term, the 26-year-old came into the game as the substitute and kicked a goal with his first AFL disposal.

Joining the Magpies as an SSP selection this year after a successful run at Footscray in the VFL, Sullivan is a prime example that AFL-ready players are out there and will jump at a chance at the senior level.

"They are out there, aren't they," Sam Edmund told SEN's Crunch Time.

"This guy was out there for so long, and there's more like him.

"He wins two best and fairest (awards) playing for Footscray, Luke Beveridge was a massive fan, they would definitely have sat down as the coaches and list management team and said, 'should we give this guy a chance'.

"They haven't, he's trained on at Collingwood, they've put him on the list, and he's done what he's done last night."

Former AFL stars Luke Hodge and Phil Davis were also impressed with the debutant's game.

Hodge: "To finish the game he had the highest score involvements of any player on the field, and he played the least amount of time.

"He had eight score involvements, he had four clearances in the second half, it's a great way to start."

Davis: "He's not 190 (cm) plus, he hasn't got a big leap, he's not an athlete, he's a player."

Hodge: "The hardest thing is, training this week, backing up, coming out and trying to do it next week.

"This is what he's going to feel. He's going to go into his second game going 'this is a pretty easy game', he's going to find out… maybe it's not."

Sullivan finished his debut game with 10 disposals at 80 percent efficiency, a game-high eight score involvements, five tackles and a goal from just 43 per cent game time.

He will look to carry his strong performance into next week, as the Magpies take on West Coast at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.