‘LOOKS LIKE A MAN’: LALOR READY TO EXPLODEJon Ralph
HeraldSun
16 Feb 2026Richmond coach Adem Yze says Sam Lalor can fulfil his ambition to be “the best player in the competition” after training in the midfield group this summer with his recovery from hamstring surgery complete.
And Yze says the former No.1 overall draft pick has made such an impression with his teammates the 19-year-old, second-year player could yet be chosen in the club’s leadership group this season.
Lalor had July, 2025 hamstring surgery after a trio of soft-tissue setbacks in the 12 months dating back to his draft year but his cameos in 11 debut-season games were spectacular.
Now despite careful management, he has done the work to be able to play serious midfield minutes in his second season while also pushing forward.
Yze revealed that Lalor had completed only 20 per cent of his first pre-season but now is ready to be unleashed as the latest Tigers “striker” playing in the mould of Dustin Martin and Shai Bolton.
“He looks like a man. He is ready,” Yze told the Herald Sun.
“We have trained him as a midfielder but he knows he will play a mix of midfield and forward. There is no ceiling with Sammy. He is a highly driven kid who wants to be the best player in the competition so we will try to help him with that.
“He has been outstanding on and off the field. We had a leadership vote that we haven’t finalised but the comments coming from his teammates are that he is outstanding with his on-field and off-field leadership. You kind of already know it, but to get recognised …. we will have some decisions to make around our leadership group.
“We have an emerging leaders group and we want to grow it but with the volume of votes it will be deciding if he’s in the leadership group. He is highly talented but his character is second to none.”
https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/richmond/how-punt-road-redevelopment-will-fuel-richmonds-destination-club-player-hunt/news-story/551a76a20ac60d06918193c6b85b48b8
