Lachlan Henderson (2008 - 2009)

[Grimreepah]

pick 8, 2007

[Grimreepah]

Bomberblitz interview

BomberBlitz: Who was your footy idol growing up and why?
Lachie Henderson: James Hird and Nathan Buckley, cant split the two. Both these players just appealed to me because of the way they played footy and the leadership they both show on and off the field.

BB:Who do you barrack for, and where do you want to go?
LH: Collingwood and it makes no difference wherever I can play footy to the best of my ability.

BB: Do you have a rough idea of where you might be placed in terms of draft position?
LH: Not really I have been told different by people but anything could happen.

BB: What is your preferred position on-field and why?
LH: CHF, I like to be up the ground a bit able to run but also able to kick and set up goals.

BB: Three reasons why you would like to come to Essendon that distances it from its rivals.
LH: James Hird was there, Kevin Sheedy was there and it is a good club with a great history.

BB: Did you injuries this season set you back a lot in your preparation?
LH: Yeah, they have a fair bit. I struggled with my broken fibula bone earlier in the year and then a ankle and foot injury later in the season that i am still carrying. My fitness is surprisingly alright but everything is lacking with the little work I have done.

BB: Are you nervous about making the transition from the TAC to AFL?
LH: No, not really. I think these days there are so many people to help and guide you through that I will be alright. It will still be tough though.

BB: Just how much growth do you have in you to make?
LH: A fair bit I haven't played a lot this year so I have still got a year to catch up on everyone. I still have a lot to learn to hopefully become a solid AFL footballer.

BB: Which modern footballer (or if not one perhaps one from the past) do you think you think you are most like on field?
LH: Nick Riewoldt

BB: Who do others say you play like?
LH: Nick Riewoldt

BB: What would you say are you’re greatest assets in terms of AFL?
LH: My marking, my brain and decision making and my leadership.

BB: What areas do you reckon you could improve on?
LH:Ground Balls, second efforts and speed

BB: What would your top 3 goals be once you’re drafted to an AFL club?
LH: Have a full pre-season, run a 15+ beep (or just be real fit), do extra skill work to get myself ready for AFL and to try and play that season.

BB: What was it like getting an AIS scholarship for AFL?
LH: Awesome, I really did not expect it at all I didnt even know what it was when I got told I was getting looked at. I learnt so much throughout the year and owe a lot too the program.

BB: What do you think of the prospect of possibly moving away from home?
LH: Not really too happy with it but sacrifices may have to be made. I would miss a lot of things over here and it would be interesting to see how I go. But if its to play footy I think I would be alright.

BB: Who has been the hardest player to play on in the under 18s?
LH: With not many games this year I cant really tell but for me probably Mathew Lobbe or Hugh Sandilands.

BB: What have been your best and worst experiences out of AFL Draft camp this year? How did you find it?
LH: Best experience was just been around all the boys and catching up with the AIS boys. I couldn't really tell you the worst it was never that bad, maybe 3km time trial. It was a great experience. Very tiring but was worth it and was great to be around people that are going through the same thing as you, I enjoyed it.

BB: When did you start playing footy?
LH: I played all through primary school just at lunch at recess with all the older boys. But properly i started in under 14's when i was in grade 6.

BB: You’re in year 12 this year, how has it been fitting both footy and school work?
LH: It has been alright being in Geelong this year right next to school made it a lot easier. It has been fine.

BB: What subjects are you doing?
LH: Geography, English, Design and Technology, Further Maths, and Maths Methods. I also did Physical Education last year.

BB: Who has had the greatest influence on your footy career so far?
LH: My Dad

Your dad had a big influence on your footy career so far, did he play a fair bit of footy back in the day or does he still?
LH: Yeah he was a great club footballer. He just has a great eye for the game and has learnt to change with it and he still understands and knows whats going on, he is fantastic.

BB: Do you play any sports other than footy?
LH: Yeah I play golf, tennis and cricket. But really only golf now.

BB: If AFL wasn't around, what would you do instead?
LH: Something to do with sport anything around it. Maybe focus on Golf earlier on and try club pro or something. *laughs*

BB: Now for the important questions. Are you a cinnamon, iced or jam centred type donut man?
LH: Cinnamon.

BB: If you could hold a Guinness World Record, what would it be for?
LH: Fastest 20m sprint.

BB: What music do you listen to?
LH: Anything

BB: If someone made a film of your life, who would you like to play the lead role?
LH: Brad Pitt.

BB: Name 3 people you would invite to dinner and why?
LH: Tiger Woods, James Hird and My Girlfriend.

BB: One place you would like to visit?
LH: Trevi fountain in Rome.

BB: Three words to describe yourself?
LH: Hard working, Honest, Loyal

BB: What is your favourite colour M&M?
LH: Green

BB: Do you think milk should be added to instant coffee prior to boiling water or after?
LH: After

BB: Shorts or pants man?
LH: Pants.

BB: Shoes or thongs?
LH: Shoes.

BB: Thanks for the interview Lachie and good luck with the draft!
LH: Thanks.

Link

Lachlan Henderson will never forget the AIS-AFL Academy tour he went on to South Africa last month. However, his memories will not be influenced by the fact he broke his leg before he even left for the trip. For Henderson, the South African adventure, visiting Soweto, Cape Flats and Cape Town, left an undeniable imprint on his memory. Henderson described the firsthand experience of seeing poverty he had previously only read about as "eye-opening". He believes the football clinics that attracted hundred of indigenous South Africans were some of the most uplifting moments he has ever experienced.

"It was hard knowing that we are so lucky over here with everything we've got and to see how little those kids had," Henderson said. "I think it was great doing those clinics with the kids. Helping them have some fun was something I'll never forget. "The kids had massive smiles on their faces all the time. The thing that struck all the players was that they were just so happy."

Henderson was amazed that the youngsters seemed oblivious to the fact that they lived in one-room shanties and that most of them had no shoes. He said there was a genuine excitement among the kids learning and playing Australian Rules, and has no doubt the South Africans have the athleticism and skill to adapt to the game.

"Obviously, they've only just started playing and haven't got the technique yet, but they're learning quickly and they never stop trying," Henderson said. "I think in 10-20 years they can be very good at it. When our boys played South Africa, we were winning by about 150 points, but it was amazing to see that they were still having fun and trying as hard as they were in the first minute," Henderson said.

As for the leg he broke in leadup match against Perth, Henderson said initiailly it was thought that he had torn a ligament not a broken bone. Henderson felt the seasonlong injury to Tom Swift, who snapped his ACL around the same time, put his own injury into perspective, and that returning home was never a consideration. And given what unfolded in South Africa, it was a decision he's glad he made.

While unable to play, Henderson said he "limped around as a water boy" and participated in some strenuous gym sessions with ex-Richmond premiership player Rob Wiley. He hopes to get the go-ahead to resume playing in early June, and when his commitments with Geelong College finish, squeeze in some games with the Geelong Falcons. Whatever the year holds, Lachlan Henderson is more knowledgeable, understanding and a better person for his experience on the AIS-AFL Academy tour to South Africa. It was, as Henderson said, a trip of a lifetime.

Link

The Henderson kid's AFL draft dream
Brad Green
20Nov07

THE town of Birregurra is well-known for being the location where the popular TV series The Henderson Kids was filmed in the mid 1980s. Another Henderson kid is preparing to put the small country town back into the national spotlight.

Geelong Falcons' big man Lachie Henderson appears a certainty to be chosen in the top 10 of this Saturday's AFL national draft.

But, despite all the hype surrounding just where his new home will be, the humble 196cm key forward said he is not getting carried away at all.

``I haven't really thought about the top 10 that much,'' the quietly-spoken Henderson said.

``It's not really that big a thing to me about being top 10. If I go at 60 it wouldn't matter and I reckon there's no real difference. It's just at that stage you're rated a better player at the time.

``So I don't think I'm much better than the player who goes at 70. I'd really like to stay in Victoria, but to play AFL footy, who really cares. I'd be happy to go anywhere.''

Henderson has been on the horizon of AFL clubs for a couple of years now.

He attracted the attention of the Falcons through his performances with Geelong College in the APS competition and then was earmarked as a potential AFL player by being chosen in the AFL-AIS Academy program late last year.

Falcons coach Garry Hocking has watched Henderson develop over the past two years and has no doubts about his talent.

``He's very mobile for a big man and he's not only a strong mark but he's good at ground level as well,'' Hocking said.

``The best thing about Lachie is that he's a great kid. I also think that he's got great leadership qualities.''

However, despite his undoubted talent, the 2007 season proved a frustrating one for Henderson as he was constantly sidelined with a series of injuries.

After an encouraging 2006, he played only six games for the Falcons and missed out on the chance to showcase his talents at the AFL under-18 national titles.

``It's been a real eye-opening year,'' Henderson said. ``I've never had an injury that's put me out for any length of time and I've learnt from it a lot.''

His problems started right from the opening round of the season. Early in the third quarter of the Falcons' match against Murray at Skilled Stadium, the 17-year-old copped a heavy knock to his left leg and he feared that the injury would stop him from joining his academy teammates on their two-week tour of South Africa.

Before they left, the squad played a practice match against WAFL side Perth and Henderson said he pleaded with academy coach Alan McConnell to be allowed to play.

``He (McConnell) only let me play the last quarter and I went out there with my leg strapped up and I could run fine,'' Henderson said.

``I had a lot of pain playing, but it was such a big game that I wanted to play. About seven minutes into that last quarter I had a big heavy collision with this little five-foot bloke.

``He gave me a hip-and-shoulder and my leg must have got caught because I got up and couldn't walk at all.

``They (medical staff) thought that it must have been torn from the week before and I ran on it for next two weeks in South Africa. When I came back, I went and got the fibula checked out and that's when we found out it was broken.''

The injury kept him sidelined for the next two months, but he was still named in the Vic Country side for the national championships and played a couple of games for College in the lead-up.

However, Henderson said he made the tough decision to withdraw from the side.

``It was my decision in the end to take myself out of the carnival, but it wasn't for own benefit, it was for the team,'' he said.

``It was probably a good thing for the team in the end because Ryan Hobbs came in and played fantastic.'' Henderson played all his junior football with Birregurra in the Colac and District Football League while he attended primary school in the town.

For five years, Henderson travelled up and back from his family's home at Birregurra to go to school at Geelong College.

His parents, Ian and Vonnie, decided it would be better for his Year 12 studies and his football commitments if he was based in Geelong.

Vonnie made a major sacrifice by temporarily moving out of the family home and rented a place in Geelong that she and Lachie have lived in since late January. As luck would have it, they stumbled on a unit within a drop punt of the College.

``We needed to save him two hours of travel a day,'' Vonnie said.

``We could have put him in the boarding house, which was an option, but I still needed to be there to be able to run him around.

``It was going to be fine in the later half of the year because he's got a lot of mates who have turned 18 and have cars.

``So it was much better all-round for him that I moved up and it was just pure luck that we found this place. So instead of travelling on a bus for two hours a day, he walks for two minutes across the road and he's in the school grounds.''

Vonnie believes the injury setbacks have been a good test of her son's character.

``As a mother, he's my only son and my youngest, so you do get a bit emotional about it because you see that he's a kid and all he wants to do is get out there and play footy,'' she said.

``I have to say, I'm pretty proud of the way he has handled himself because it's been really frustrating for him.''

That support is not lost on Henderson.

``I don't reckon mum realises just how appreciative I am,'' he declared.

Now that his Year 12 exams are finished, Henderson has been able to regularly indulge in another of his sporting passions _ a round of golf.

While Henderson said his preferred position is centre half-forward both McConnell and Hocking believe he is an attractive option at centre half-back.

``He hasn't had a great opportunity to present to the industry this year through injury, but he can play both forward and back and has done some work in the ruck,'' McConnell said.

Henderson has signed with Ricky Nixon's Flying Start management group and said he does not plan to attend Saturday's draft.

Vonnie said it will be a nervous wait for the whole family _ including his older sister Chloe, who lives in London _ until his name is read out.

Henderson said the uncertainty of the draft is making him nervous, but he can't wait for Saturday morning to roll around.

``It's very exciting, but I just have to take it as it comes and not get to ahead of myself,'' Henderson said.

``It's only really the start when you get drafted.''

[Grimreepah]

Link

Top draft prospects: Tall forwards
7:12 AM Fri 16 November, 2007
By Jason Phelan,

Lachlan Henderson – Geelong Falcons, VIC, 195.5cm, 91.5kg, DOB 14/12/89

Honours

• Vic Country representative – NAB AFL Under-18 Championship 2007
• AIS-AFL Academy graduate

NAB AFL Draft Camp highlights

• Handspan – 25.0cm (7th overall)

Alan McConnell, AIS-AFL High Performance Coach says:
“Lachie has had a challenging year with injuries, but was a key player in Geelong College’s premiership in APS (Associated Public School) footy 12 months ago; he was a pivotal player there.
“He hasn’t had a great opportunity to present to the industry this year through injury, but he can play both forward and back and has done some work in the ruck. Most of his TAC Cup footy has been up forward and in the ruck, but he has also played some school football in defence and, in my mind, that may be where he finishes up.”

[Grimreepah]

Test Results

Pre Season

Height - 195.5
Weight - 89.9
5m sprint - 1.09
20m sprint - 3.07
Agility - 8.64
Shuttle - 14.0
Vertical jump - 57

Screening

Height - 195.5
Weight - 91.5
5m sprint - 1.18
20m sprint - 3.14
Agility - 8.88
Shuttle - 13.8
Vertical jump - 56
Repeat sprints - 24.98

[Grimreepah]

Link

Matt Burgan's 2007 Phantom Draft
11:30 AM Fri 23 November, 2007
By Matt Burgan

8 – BRISBANE LIONS – LACHLAN HENDERSON
Geelong Falcons, VIC, Tall forward, December 14 1989, 195.5cm, 91.5kg
This will be an intriguing selection. Brad Ebert and Jack Grimes have been huge tips here for some time, with Henderson strongly associated with St Kilda (No.9). And although Ebert and Grimes remain right in the hunt for the Lions, the momentum for Henderson continues to build at No.8 – he looms as a No.8-12 pick – and he will be right in the Lions' thinking. Alex Rance, Tom Collier and Cyril Rioli are also contenders for the Lions, as Chris Masten and David Myers are likely to be gone.
Bio: A tall, key forward prospect with strong hands. Very good on the lead and exceptionally quick off the mark for a player his size. He displayed impressive endurance at the NAB AFL Draft Camp with a shuttle run result of 13.8. AIS-AFL Academy graduate. From Geelong College.

Burgan

Once it was thought likely that key forward Lachlan Henderson, who was also strongly linked to St Kilda at No.9, would be claimed by the Brisbane Lions at No.8, McEvoy loomed as the most likely.

[BigCat2]

His stats were worse in the screening. Was that because of his leg injuries?

Still that's a pretty good agility score, and fitness seems to be ok too. 14 beep for a KPP is very good.

[Grimreepah]

Phantom drafts

Quigley

14. Melbourne – Lachlan Henderson – DOB 14/12/89 Ht 196 Wt 90

Before Melbourne picked up this pick they would have been giving serious consideration to Henderson at 4 and they would be ecstatic to get him at 14. The Melbourne forward line is getting a little long in the tooth and Henderson has as much potential as any key position available. Gourdis, Grant and Simpson are likely to be the others which Melbourne will be looking closely at here.

This would have to be one of the weakest key position drafts in quite some time and with the year that he has had Henderson would probably only have been lucky to be a second round pick last year. Henderson has great height for the position and can be a real handful in the forward line. He is pretty agile for a guy his size and is good overhead. Before this year he played predominantly at ruck and so is not hugely experienced as a key forward and I remain to be convinced that he will be able to make the jump to forward at AFL level. He is very similar in this regard to Sellar last year. It is worth noting that his Gary Hocking (his coach from Geelong) rates his best position as being at centre half back. In the games he did play toward the end of the year he had a tendency to seriously fade in and out of games and his kicking was pretty ordinary. Despite those games he has a reputation of being a good kick with a good awareness of what is happening around him.

As mentioned he was injured for most of the year and as a consequence he missed the Championships this year which given the poor performance by Vic Country and the poor service he would have gotten it might actually have helped his draft stock. He comes into the draft without his reputation as the best KP prospect in the draft being tested to any significant degree and the team that takes him will be taking a fair risk. On the other side of the coin the rewards could be equally high as he could develop into a top notch key position player.

Official

#14 Lachlan Henderson - Tall Forward - Geelong Falcons, 196cm, 92kg

KPP (predominantly CHF), but equally adept at FF and at a pinch, CHB. Melbourne need a big bodied KPF to eventually replace Nietz. Aside from Newton who shows promise, there is only the lightly built Dunn and Garland who both look better suited to the third tall forward role. Henderson fits the bill. Was highly rated coming into the ’07 TAC season and was talked of as a top 5 selection. IIRC he fractured his tibia early in the season and subsequently missed the U18 champs. Came back reasonably well and I was impressed with the game I saw him play down at Geelong against Eastern. Another good display against Calder at Coburg where he kicked 2 and played all over the ground at various stages. After that though his form seemed to slide a little and it didn’t look like he could kick over a jam tin. Despite that his KPI’s still all improved slightly from ’06.
At #14 I’m willing to overlook his late season kicking woes as players rarely come back well from such a leg injury in their first year back. To the naked eye he looks quick on the lead, has a beautiful set of hands, a genuine one-grab mark and is a good set shot for goal. Plays with great intensity and is willing to crash the packs if he doesn’t look like marking the ball. Could be a very exciting prospect with two pre-seasons and some fitness under his belt.

CouchCoach

Draft Pick No 4 Melbourne
Best Available IMO: Chris Masten
Best Club Fit: With McLean, Jones, Moloney, Petterd, Bruce and McDonald do they really need to pick up a midfielder at 4 when they have pick 14 as well? Therefore Henderson to fix future forward line problems
Possible Options: IMO there is no clear best forward as Henderson has had injury concerns which leaves McEvoy and Gourdis as options. I'm a big fan of Gourdis and would like to see him picked up here
Outside Chances: Alex Rance, Melbourne may decide to build from the back rather than the forward line
Hope to Slide: Kreuzer would add to the midfield and forward line as he and Jeff white can both play forward
Selection: Lachie Henderson (Key Fwd / Ruck) - 18 December 1989, 196cm 90kg. Vic Country/Geelong/Geelong College
Reasons For: Tall, mobile, strong, good in the air, in short everything you want from a CHF player
Reasons Against: Injury concerns and question in my mind as to wether he is the best forward available
TAC Stats: 5 Games, 10 goals, 2 behinds, goal accuracy 83%, average possessions 13.8, kicking efficiency 71%, handball efficiency 92%, tackles per match 3.6 and 24 marks with 25% contested.

Foj1

5. Western Bulldogs- Lachlan Henderson 196cm 90kg Geelong Falcons

Talented tall forward who has a wretched year with injury. Has the ability to mark strongly, display surprising agility and rotate between chf and ff. Perhaps slight risk drafting Henderson because of injuries but we need to remember Joel Selwood’s season to know that taking a risk on talented players is well worth taking.

timmeh

11. Lachlan Henderson (Geelong Falcons/VICTORIA) – Sydney
Position: Key Forward
Height: 195cm Weight: 90kg
Lachie has had two injury interrupted seasons but that won’t shy away recruiters as he has shown in games over the years and few this year he is one of the highly rated key forwards. Being a great contested mark and very mobile he is what you will look for in a CHF. Decision making and on-field leadership are great. There will be question marks on whether he is injury prone and about his kicking distance (after coming back from injury this year).

The Swans will have a key position player in their sights after not having much success with blooding young ones and having to draft Henry Playfair. Henderson, Grant and Rance will be on the radar.

Bulldogs 6

5. Lachie Henderson- Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are surely going to draft for needs this year and pick up the best available KPP at pick 5. Lachie is a genuine CHF with great hands and reads the play extremely well. Relatively good kicking but doubts whether the Bulldogs will pick him or Ben McEvoy up due to Lachie's on-going injury troubles. (Key Foward). Height: 195cm Weight: 90kg

Alberton Magpie

Pick 05 (Bulldogs) – Lachie Henderson – Arguably the best Key Position forward in the draft Lachie Henderson will be going to the Bulldogs if still available by pick 5. Bulldogs are screaming out for KP players and they will address this issues with pick 5 in the draft.

Weaver - leading draft prospects at midyear

3. Lachie Henderson (Key Fwd / Ruck)

At 196 would only be a part-time AFL ruckman, and so would get drafted as a key forward. Mobile, strong, good in the air. Skilled. Missed carnival with an injury but has been rated for a long time. Showed out in last year's TAC finals as one to watch and although an up-and-down season has shown he can impact games. Not too many very tall KPs on offer this year which should see Henderson nudged up a spot or two.

Weaver

14. Melbourne – Lachie Henderson

I see Henderson's inability to kick over a jam team for the bulk of the season to be good cause for him to drop away, and perhaps a lot further than even this. He has genuine height at 195cm and is a lead-mark FF who is quick over the crucial first 5 meters. He plays in front, stays in front and takes marks in his hands. He has been obliged to learn to be good at short-passing to blokes in better position so has developed a nice line in bringing other forwards into the game. That said, with little exaggeration, he couldn't kick 30m by September and was no sure thing with a set-shot 25m out dead in front. The leg injuries? Probably, so he will be taken but it will be a nervous club watching him microscopically over preseason praying that there are no more leg problems. He is no Lee Walker, but he has a favourite surgeon on speed dial.

Snoop Dog

# 6 Essendon - Lachlan Henderson (Geelong Falcons / 196cm / 90kg)

Hard to know what the Dons will do here as midfield pace seems to be their focus but I think they did a good job of fixing that last year with Davey, Jetta and Houli. Not sure Henderson would be their ideal but if he lasts this long I cannot see them going past him.

Drafters seem to be going hold on him but I will hold onto him as an early selection. Henderson is a product of the Geelong Falcons and has been a stand out at junior level for a long time. Missed the Championships this year with a broken leg but seemed to return fairly off an injury that requires a lot of confidence. Kicking doesn’t seem to be as good but again the experts will fix this.

David Myers would not surprise here and even David Gourdis or Brad Ebert could come into contention. The other smokie here would be Rioli.

GoDons

5. Western Bulldogs: Lachie Henderson CHF/FF 196cm 90kg Geelong Falcons
It seems clear that the Bulldogs will go tall, and I believe Henderson leads the group of himself, McEvoy, Grant and Gourdis. Henderson stands 196cm which stands him as a bigger prospect than Grant and Gourdis and a big presence is what the Bulldogs need. He shakes McEvoy in that he is quicker and more athletic, I can’t see McEvoy ever being a CHF at AFL level.

TOA

Pick 8 – Brisbane – Lachlan HENDERSON (14/12/89) 196/92
Henderson has been seen as one of the standouts of this draft since the u16s, and even though his progress has been slowed by a broken leg he has undoubted talent. When on song he is quick, much quicker than his draft camp results suggest and he has potential to play CHB, CHF or FF. Many might see him as an unorthodox selection here however the Lions have shown reasonable interest in him and they have proven each year they will pick the best player available with the first selection, regardless of position. The fact Henderson could easily develop into a quality CHB should remove the pain for Lions supporters gunning for a midfielder. Henderson has also received strong interest from the Saints, so he might go at the next selection. If not, he shouldn’t get pas the Swans at 11.

TFLUA Tiger

Pick 9 > StKilda - Lachie Henderson - 196cm 90kgs - Geelong Falcons (Key Fwd)

With the retirement of Gehrig, the Saints need a KP forward to complement Reiwoldt and Koschitzke, who ideally, can pinch hit in the ruck. With great aerobic capacity, and sticky mitts, the Saints have found their tall forward. Will need to spend time fixing up his goal kicking as it is incredibly inconsistent, but barring that, is a great player, with no other deficiencies in his game. At 196 cm and 90 kg Henderson will become a lead up forward similar to Gourdis but with more height and less aerobic capacity. If he is to spend time in the ruck will need to bulk up and put on one or two centimetres, but with Jeff White an elite ruckman at 196 cm there is no reason why Henderson can't be either.

Rizzo

Pick #05 - Bulldogs– Lachie Henderson – Geelong Falcons – Tall Forward
The dogs are on a mission to boost their tall stocks and Henderson looks like the player they will go for. He is fantastic in pack situations, and is mobile around the ground. He broke his leg and missed a lot of footy this year, however many people liken him to a young Matthew Pavlich.

Whispering Jack (Demonland)

Lachlan Henderson 14.12.89 196 90 (Geelong Falcons Vic Country) – this kid may well be a risk worth taking but it would certainly be a dangerous risk with a pick as high as number 4. He can play key forward or key back and is very mobile for his height of 196 cm. He has a great pair of hands, is a very good kick and what more can you say but for the fact that he spent most of 2007 on the injury list with a broken leg.

Melon22 (Demonland)

8. Lachlan HENDERSON - Geelong Falcons 14/12/89 195.5cm 91.5kg - FF/CHF

Was a candidate for the top draft pick at the start of a year, but a leg injury in the first weeks of the season put him out for most of the year and he could only manage 5 TAC Cup games on top of his school football for the year. His speed and agility is good for someone of his size and he uses his speed to present well on the lead. He is a good mark and he knows how to use his body in the contested situations, he is also a decent kick but you wouldn’t be expecting him to make the distance from outside 50. The overall package is okay without Henderson, but I just don’t think there is that special something about him. He gives the impression that he lacks a bit of intensity at times on the field as well. He is a very difficult player to judge for me because he missed most of the champs and he played school footy over the last 2 years.

Probably the most difficult player to predict where he will go on draft day, but someone who moves as well as he does and can take a contested mark shouldn’t last too long.

[Quigley]

From Inside Football:

"A top-10 pick despite the fact that he broke his leg early in the year and missed a large chunk of footy. Big and mobile with great hands, is good on the ground, is a good kick and has very good awareness in contested situations. Probably his best position is centre half back but I reckon he is a top 10, potential top 5 selection" Geelong Falcons coach Gary Hocking.

[serbkoolie]

pity he was injured throughout this year

[serbkoolie]

good to have him at the lions

[Grimreepah]

Link

RD 1 SELECTION, PICK No. 8 OVERALL – LACHLAN HENDERSON
Original Club: Geelong Falcons (VIC)
DOB: 14/12/1989
Height: 195.5cm
Weight: 91.5kg
Position: Tall Forward

Strong marking and tall key forward or big defender prospect with strong hands. Very good on the lead and exceptionally quick off the mark for a player of his size. He displayed impressive endurance as a Vic Country representative at the recent NAB AFL Draft Camp with a shuttle run result of 13.8. Henderson has a handspan of 25cm placing him equal seventh overall. AIS-AFL Academy graduate from Geelong College. Firmed strongly as the Lions’ first round pick in the days leading up to the draft.

Alan McConnell, AIS-AFL High Performance Coach says:
“Lachie has had a challenging year with injuries but was a key player in Geelong College’s premiership in APS (Associated Public School) footy 12 months ago – he was a pivotal player there. He hasn’t had a great opportunity to present to the industry this year through injury, but he can play both forward and back, and has done some work in the ruck. Most of his TAC Cup footy has been up forward and in the ruck but he has also played some school football in defence, and in my mind, that may be where he finishes up.”

Link

AFL Top 30 Draft Prospects

11. Lachlan Henderson, VIC, 14 December 1989, Tall Forward, 195.5cm, 91.5kg.

A tall, key forward prospect with strong hands. Very good on the lead and is exceptionally quick off the mark for a player his size. He displayed impressive endurance at the NAB AFL Draft Camp with a shuttle run result of 13.8. AIS-AFL Academy Graduate. From Geelong College

[Grimreepah]

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Draft day is like Christmas for 16 AFL clubs
Emma Quayle | November 17, 2007 - 10:35PM

The following is not a phantom draft, rather how she rates her top 25 players from this year's pool.

14. Lachlan Henderson
(Geelong Falcons. 17, 196cm, 92kg) Henderson is this year's tricky one.
He missed the first half of the season with a broken leg.
He got back after the under-18 carnival, but struggled through the last few Falcons games with various niggles.
So clubs will be considering his under-16 form strongly when they make their minds up £ he showed great speed off the mark in that carnival, and covered enough ground for Geelong regional manager Michael Turner to compare him to Matthew Pavlich.
It would be no surprise if he proves to be one of the best players from this draft.

[Grimreepah]

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Henderson is a 196cm strong marking player with excellent speed off the mark and good endurance as evident by his 13.8 beep test result at the NAB AFL Draft Camp.

“We are really excited about getting him,” Allan said. “He is great leader who can play centre half-back, centre half-forward and is also athletic enough to play in the midfield.”

“Geelong Falcons Manager Michael Turner thought Lachlan was as good a player as they have ever had since Luke Hodge and Jonathan Brown. Mick also believes he will captain an AFL club one day and could potentially be the best player from this draft in three or four years.”

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Allan was particularly pleased to have landed Geelong Falcons tall forward Lachlan Henderson with the club’s first pick, No.8.

“We rated Henderson at four in the draft and we rated Tom Collier as a first round selection, so we were delighted with our first two picks,” Allan said from Telstra Dome.

“I think Henderson down the track could develop into a great player. Mickey Turner [manager of the Geelong Falcons] told me yesterday that Henderson will be a marquee player and a captain of your club one day, so he’s an outstanding kid. Mick’s got massive wraps on him and I really respect Michael’s opinion.

[Fairley]

does anyone know if he will be training straight away?

[Quigley]

He was playing at the end of the year so I would expect him to be training with us from the get go.