TAC Cup: Hansen rises to occasion
29 July 2006 Herald-Sun
David Hastie
IF THERE is pressure on Gippsland Power key-position player Lachlan Hansen, you wouldn't know it.
Touted as a potential top-five pick in this year's national draft, Hansen didn't do his cause any harm with three standout performances at the recent AFL under-18 national championships with Division1 runner-up Vic Country.
Despite being concussed in the second game against South Australia, Hansen recovered to play the third and final match against Vic Metro and was named the All-Australian centre half-back.
After playing in last year's carnival with Country, Hansen said the experience helped ease the nerves before his side's first match against Western Australia.
``I had a taste of it last year so I wasn't so nervous coming into it,'' Hansen said.
``And then to win a couple of games when we didn't win one last year was really good.
``You play against these blokes and then to play with them it's great to get to know them.''
Hansen, who turns 18 next month, described West Australian centre half-forward and friend Scott Gumbleton as the best opponent he had played on after the two went head-to-head in the first of the championship games.
``What can I say, he's a freak,'' Hansen said.
``He's got an unbelievable motor and he just marks everything.''
With AFL coaches Kevin Sheedy, Dean Laidley and Alastair Clarkson watching from the stands during the championships, Hansen said he was not overawed.
``Some of the other guys were pretty nervous with all that sort of thing,'' Hansen said. ``But I'm pretty laid back with all that. I didn't really think about anything like that.
``I was just there to play footy and that's what I did. You've just got to keep your mind on the footy, not who might be watching you play.''
But a modest Hansen played down talk he was a possible top-five draft prospect.
``I don't really believe it because I don't think I'm good enough to go top five,'' he said. ``I've got no words to describe it. I've heard it a bit.
``I'm hard working, but not that good. I just want to get picked up. I don't care what number it is.''
At 196cm and 92kg, versatility is a key attribute of the talented youngster.
While Hansen prefers lining-up at centre half-forward he said he played his best football at centre half-back.
Hansen's Gippsland Power takes on the Bendigo Pioneers tomorrow at Morwell Football Ground.
He said it was a great feeling to return to Power training after the championships, saying No.1 goal was to play in another TAC Cup premiership this season.
``It's great getting back to the club and playing with all your mates again,'' he said.
``Hopefully we'll get in the finals, which we should, and see if we can go back-to-back.
``Last year's (premiership) was the best moment of my footy career to date.
``Hopefully we can get to the grand final again and then anything's possible.''
Gippsland coach Paul Hudson said he had thrown Hansen forward this season to help develop the talented youngster as a key position player.
``I'm harder if anything, on him than anyone else, because you can see the talent that he's got,'' Hudson said.
``He's probably averaged about 10 marks for us per game.
``Lachy was a solid player for us last year. All year through we based the side around him being at centre half-back last year.''
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