Essendon Bombers mid-season draft recruit Lachlan Blakiston says there’s ‘no reason I couldn’t conquer AFL’

Lachlan Blakiston was playing for the Cockburn Cobras in the C4 division of the Perth Football League less than six years ago. Yet Essendon’s newest ruckman sees no reason why he cannot “conquer” the AFL despite his remarkable rise. Blakiston was selected by the Bombers with pick 13 in the mid-season rookie draft on Wednesday after a breakout 12 months. SEE EVERY PLAYER SELECTED IN THE AFL’S MID-SEASON DRAFT “I am a bit lost for words to be honest. I cannot believe it’s happened, I’m seriously just speechless,” Blakiston told The West Australian. “I definitely thought my opportunity to get to the next level is not as likely as it was last year but there’s always hope when I was tracking the way I was. “At the trajectory I am on there’s no reason I couldn’t conquer AFL. The challenge and opportunity really excited me and I look forward to it.” The 26-year-old was thrust into the No.1 ruck role at East Fremantle after the Sharks lost Brynn Teakle to North Melbourne mid-season last year and he took the role head-on. Now, the 203cm Shark is a strong chance to make his AFL debut as one of only two fit experienced ruckmen on the list, alongside 36-year-old Todd Goldstein after season-ending injuries to Nick Bryan (knee) and Sam Draper (Achilles). Blakiston — who had interest from St Kilda and Geelong leading into last year’s national draft — conceded he thought his chances were over heading into this season. A shoulder injury hindered his start to the season, sidelining him for the first four games and costing him a spot in the state side. Blakiston’s rise to AFL is incredible considering in 2019 he was winning a C4 flag alongside West Coast premiership ruckman Mark Seaby, winning a league fairest-and-best in 2021 and has played just 17 leagues games at the Sharks. “It’s been a life-long passion of mine and I’ve always loved the game,” Blakiston said. “It’s all kind of happened for me and all the adversity I’ve faced I copped it on the chin, kept sticking at it and it’s got me here. “I played with Mark in 2019 and in my time at the Cobras he was very supportive and always offering me tips and one thing that stuck with me was when we played in the premiership he was the ground and I was on the bench and he ran off to let me be on the ground for the final siren. I will never forget that.”