Dual Richmond premiership midfielder Kane Lambert will celebrate his 100th AFL game milestone in Sunday’s clash with Melbourne at the MCG.
It’s been a fine achievement by Lambert, who was overlooked in six national drafts despite starring at under-18 level (with Northern Knights) and VFL level (Northern Blues and Williamstown), before finally being taken by the Tigers with their third pick (No. 46 overall) in the 2015 rookie draft, when he was 23 years of age.
He’s since developed into an integral member of Richmond’s senior side through his hard, two-way running, ball-winning ability, creativity and toughness.
Lambert finished third in the Jack Dyer Medal in the Tigers’ 2017 premiership year and was runner-up the following season when the team made the preliminary final.
He again was influential in Richmond’s 2019 premiership success, hitting the scoreboard with an AFL career-high 18 goals for the season and managing another top-10 placing (eighth) in the Best and Fairest.
Over the course of his 99 games with the Tigers, Lambert is averaging 19.7 disposals, 3.5 inside-50s, 2.4 clearances, 6.1 score involvements, 2.3 intercepts, 3.5 tackles and 270.9 metres gained.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick paid tribute to Lambert at his weekly press conference yesterday.
“He’s been an incredible story . . . A real testament to resilience and a testament to his fortitude of realising a dream. He went the hard road,” Hardwick said.”
“It’s players like that a coach loves to coach.
“He’s very low maintenance, but he’s high impact on our footy club.
“He’s been an incredible ambassador, both on and off field.
“And we play for that guy. If we take a little bit of Kane Lambert with us this weekend, the result won’t be in question.”
