In a special series leading into this week’s AFL national and rookie drafts, Richmond Media is looking at those members of the Tigers’ 2020 premiership team who have proven to be brilliant, bargain-basement buys for the Club. Our specific focus is on the start of their Tigerland journey. Today it’s triple premiership forward/midfielder Kane Lambert.
What the Richmond recruiters said about Lambert after he was drafted
Richmond has selected Williamstown midfielder Kane Lambert with its third pick (selection 46) in the 2014 rookie draft.
The 23-year-old has been one of the standout performers in the VFL competition for the last few years, initially with the Northern Blues, and most recently with Williamstown.
A hip injury hampered Lambert’s start to the 2014 season, however he put together an outstanding finish to the season.
In the Seagulls’ semi-final, he collected 32 disposals, 17 clearances, 15 inside-50s and kicked four goals.
While playing for the Northern Blues in 2013, he won the Club Best and Fairest and was named the VFL’s Fothergill-Round Medallist.
Kane had a slow start to this season, due to injury, but over the second half of the season he returned to his 2013 form, where he had some dominant performances, including in the finals.
He competes well and has a burst of speed to break away from the stoppages.
He is also a dangerous player around goals.”
Williamstown coach at the time, Andy Collins, on Lambert
“I am very confident, as I was if not more so with Steve Morris, and guys like Ben McGlynn that I have coached, that I know that Kane is equal to all these guys in regards to his professionalism and his attitude.
He is a competitor. Because of his fierce competitiveness, he is a cool kid and always in the moment.
He is an elite athlete with an elite athlete’s mind.”
Dual North Melbourne premiership coach and former Northern Knights coach Denis Pagan on Lambert
“Kane Lambert, he just won me from day one.
I just thought he was a right-footed Anthony Stevens. I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t given an opportunity.
I was with him for virtually 12 months every day at training and match day and just saw him in a whole host of scenarios.
I rang two or three clubs, people who I know that work at clubs and said you’d be mad not to take him.
They’ve (Richmond) made a very wise choice.
It’s not often you go overboard, but I just think he’s an outstanding player and I was flabbergasted he wasn’t picked up for the last couple of years.”
He’s pretty tough, he’s pretty hard and he’s never beaten.
If you’re going into a battle, I reckon you’d be comfortable with Kane Lambert next to you.”
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick on Lambert’s promotion from the rookie list to the senior list early in season 2015
“He's been really impressive.
He's a mature-age prospect, so we always expected him to be a little bit further advanced than our first-year players.
The way he's attacked his training, and the way he's fitted into the Club, has been outstanding.”
Lambert’s AFL career with Richmond got off to a bad start when, on debut against the Western Bulldogs in Round 2 of the 2015 season at the MCG, he suffered a severe shoulder injury that sidelined him for a couple of months. True to form, however, Lambert showed great determination and resilience to overcome that setback and go on to establish himself as a pivotal member of the Tigers’ line-up.
Kane Lambert fact file
Draft history: Richmond’s third pick (No. 46 overall) in the 2015 AFL rookie draft.
AFL debut: Round 2, 2015 v Western Bulldogs, MCG.
Total games:110
Goals: 67
Playing honours: Triple premiership player 2017, 2019, 2020, Richmond life member 2017, runner-up in Best and Fairest 2018, third in Best and Fairest 2017.
