Respected Coates Talent League coach David Loader has provided an excellent insight into what Richmond supporters can look forward to with the first pick in the 2024 AFL national draft, Sam Lalor.

Loader, who coached Lalor at the Greater Western Victoria Rebels, is a massive fan of the talented, teenage, big-bodied midfielder.

“I’m always reticent to compare young players to brilliant AFL players, but he certainly has the traits that Dustin Martin had when he was a younger player coming through at this level of footy,” Loader told foxfooty.com.au.

“He’s so clean around the football, he’s big and he’s strong. He’s got real power from the contest, but he’s just so well balanced when under pressure, so he can use his hands beautifully, and he’s a really good kick.

“He’s a really rounded package around the contest and then he can go forward and he’s very, very hard to play one-on-one because he’s just so clever with his body positioning and his strength.”

Loader also highly rates Lalor’s leadership qualities and has the utmost admiration for his overall character.

“What I love about Sam is what you see, you get,” he said.

“There’s nothing hidden with him, he’s a really natural leader. He speaks openly in front of his peers and speaks really clearly and concisely, and he doesn’t hide anything.

“He wants the truth on the table all the time and if things aren’t going right, we need to find out why and what we can do about it. He’s one of those people that every player warms to because he’s just so naturally friendly to everyone.

“I’ll always remember on the camp getting a new staff member that had been with us for five minutes and 10 minutes later Sam is sitting across from him at the table talking to him.

“He’s just that type of person that when he’s in a club environment, everyone’s on the same level. He wants to be a leader; he shows great leadership skills through his honesty and the way he goes about his footy.

“He’s just got no flaws in him. I don’t want to sound too gushy over the kid, but he’s just a great kid.

“He’s going to be successful. I think he’ll be really successful at footy, but outside of that he’s a better person than he probably is at football, which is a real credit to him.”

Loader is convinced that Lalor will be unfazed by the added pressure and responsibility that comes with being the No. 1 draft pick.

“I don’t think he’ll have any problem with that . . . He’s very driven and he’s very clear on wanting to be the best he can possibly be at footy,” Loader said.

“Nothing will stand in his way. As wonderful a person and brilliant kid he is off field, he’s very driven on field, too, and he’ll make every post a winner, I’m sure.”