Premiership hero Lambert breaks into Richmond's 'big four'Ronny Lerner
The Age
March 2, 2018Lambert, who had stints at the Northern Bullants/Blues and Williamstown in the VFL before being drafted, was only keeping tabs on the 2015 rookie draft on the AFL website to see if any of his Williamstown teammates were going to get picked up.
So low were his own expectations of getting selected that he let a phone call from an unknown number just prior to the rookie draft go through to his voicemail. It turned out to be Richmond list manager Blair Hartley.
Initially, he thought he was the victim of a cruel practical joke but, as it turned out, after 1096 picks and at the ripe old age of 23, Lambert became an AFL player. Three years later he would have a dream season to play an integral part in the Tigers’ drought-breaking flag.
“It was a shock because that year I’d had no contact with any AFL club, we had no interest,” Lambert told Fairfax Media.
“It was mainly shock and probably a lit bit of fear as well because I probably hadn’t prepared my life. I was a 23-year-old working full-time and I was pretty steady in what I was doing and all of a sudden I’ve got to quit my job and start a new journey.
“It was a lot of emotions, it took me a little time to settle in, but looking back now I was elated deep down.
“It’s been a different journey, a long one, a tough one, but it’s ingrained some strong values into me and built resilience and humility and authenticity as well.”
While Lambert never lost hope that he would one day play in the AFL, he felt that he was ignored so many times by recruiters because he didn’t fit the athletic profile they were looking for.
“They probably found I was a bit plain, you could find players like me wherever they liked,” said Lambert, who is listed as 178 centimetres and 77 kilograms.
“You’d have to have some real special attribute as my size to get an opportunity and I don’t think they thought I had an X-factor and I got told by a recruiter that I was just going to be a role player, I’m not going to be a match winner.
“Looking back now that’s all the Richmond Football Club wanted – a role player. I think times have changed a little bit but I always felt if I knocked on the door long enough it would open and if it didn’t open I’d have to knock it down so eventually that’s what happened.”
As effective role player as Lambert was last year, he also proved the aforementioned recruiter wrong in emphatic fashion by ending up one of Richmond’s match-winners on grand final day as he produced one of the best performances of his career when it mattered most.
“To perform on the big stage, it sits well,” he said. “It’s exciting and it gives me confidence that I can play at the highest level on the biggest day, so moving forward hopefully I reap the benefits of that.”
Lambert ranked second for tackles, fourth for inside 50s, fifth for disposals, fifth for contested possessions and sixth for clearances at Richmond last year.
Those impressive numbers took him ahead of the likes of Cotchin, Shaun Grigg, Riewoldt, Bachar Houli, Dion Prestia, Daniel Rioli, Shane Edwards and Toby Nankervis in the club’s best-and-fairest, but being put on such a grand pedestal doesn’t sit comfortably with the humble 26-year-old.
“It probably doesn’t sit too well really because how I perceive myself and the journey I’ve come from,” he said.
“I’ve probably battled within myself a little bit to feel as though I’m worthy at AFL level and that’s a continual battle for me and a hurdle I need to get over.”
However, Lambert knows how easily his premiership fairytale could have remained confined to his dreams.
With his career at the crossroads at the end of the 2016 season, he credited new assistant coach Blake Caracella with providing him with the necessary self-belief to help him reach the dizzying heights of last year.
“[I was wondering] where do I fit in, and am I going to be able to have an impact and when Blake came in, he came in with a completely fresh mind and no prior opinions,” Lambert said.
“It was his belief in me that probably gave me some belief in myself as well that if this guy mentors me through I could have an impact ... he articulates the game so well and I learn really well off him, he reads game well and just the way he taught me off-ball tactics.
“At the end of the 2016 season I quite easily could’ve been delisted and who knows what would’ve happened so I’m fortunate to end up as a premiership player and I’m excited by what’s ahead too.”
Lambert and his teammates can now look forward to the unfurling of the premiership flag in round one against old foes Carlton in front of an expected crowd of 90,000.
“It’ll be a good moment for our fans and obviously our friends and family.”
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/premiership-hero-lambert-breaks-into-richmond-s-big-four-20180301-p4z2bs.html
