Player Watch SSP (2025) - Josh Lai

[El_Scorcho]

Gotta say I like the description mentioning good overhead marking. It's so, so useful in a winger role to be able to run hard and take a grab. Like Brad Ebert in the slingshot in 2014.

 

[RossFC]

 

[jac147]

Checking the numbers that are available and it looks like he will be #43 - Dan Houston’s number before he got #5. I reckon it will be a popular number for guernseys bought at the Port Store because he looks to be a good’n.

 

[RossFC]

Checking the numbers that are available and it looks like he will be #43 - Dan Houston’s number before he got #5. I reckon it will be a popular number for guernseys bought at the Port Store because he looks to be a good’n.

Not sure if it means anything, but I saw he was training in No.47.

 

[jac147]

Absolutely agree. AFL recruitment is geared so much towards private school kids these days, there are plenty who are talented enough but don't get the opportunities who slip through, or are a late bloomer.

Jackson Mead came via Henley High, anymore public school boys?

 

[jac147]

Not sure if it means anything, but I saw he was training in No.47.

OK

 

[Enviable Tradition]

I hope we have invited his brother to the Magpies now.

 

[Blinky Nyland]

I hope we have invited his brother to the Magpies now.

I think his brother has a spot with Richmond's VFL team

 

[Jonts]

The quality of questions from the media is at an all time low

 

[I Dont Care]

Like this signing. Good vibes

 

[Ford Fairlane]

We friended him

 

[bringbackbucky]

Jackson Mead came via Henley High, anymore public school boys?

Lukosius went to Henley High as well (with Rankine).

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

Every time for a non Australian born player:

Did you ever dream of playing in the AFL as a kid in X country?

Response: "I've basically lived in Australia my whole life'

 

[Grave Danger]

We friended him

Please like him.

 

[TeeKray]

The quality of questions from the media is at an all time low

Just watched it, was about as cringe as it gets. Asking if he would like to play alongside his brother (who isn't rated as an AFL prospect at all) one day, asking whether he ever thought he would be playing AFL one day when he was playing soccer (um, obviously not?) and asking if he feels like he's representing an entire country which he hasn't lived in since he was 6 years old. The look of bewilderment he gave in response to all of these questions was quality.

 

[Us against the rest]

Robbie Gray knows talent when he see's it.

 

[Ant Bear]

I hope we chose the right twin this time, as opposed to the Marty/Michael Frederick situation.

Look forward to seeing him in action

 

[El_Scorcho]

Just watched it, was about as cringe as it gets. Asking if he would like to play alongside his brother (who isn't rated as an AFL prospect at all) one day, asking whether he ever thought he would be playing AFL one day when he was playing soccer (um, obviously not?) and asking if he feels like he's representing an entire country which he hasn't lived in since he was 6 years old. The look of bewilderment he gave in response to all of these questions was quality.

The footy media is absolutely useless. The only people who ever ask interesting questions are the Crocmedia employees, and unfortunately they only ask them when those questions will maximise clicks.

I know it's a relatively small market but it just sucks. You're miles better off reading bigfooty for analysis, which is sad because a lot of bigfooty is a cesspit.

 

[Dazalinko1988]

'You Know'

Haha all the best Josh Lai take the chance and don't look back

 

[Scholz Supremacy]

Absolutely agree. AFL recruitment is geared so much towards private school kids these days, there are plenty who are talented enough but don't get the opportunities who slip through, or are a late bloomer.

He did go to Mentone Grammar.

 

[1954]

This may not be correct as I had lost interest in the Josh Lai interview due to the non stop cringeworthy questions, and I was in another room when I thought I heard one of the journos say `what's it like taking questions from d***heads like us?'

The whole thing was so cringeworthy I'm not going to put myself through listening to it again to find out if I heard what I thought I did, but regardless, the quality of that particular interview and those doing the interviewing was so bad it was beyond embarrassing!

 

[rogerjames]

Seems very grounded. Like that he's found it a pretty tough long summer. He's obviously willing to put in the work so its worth a punt.

 

[rogerjames]

This may not be correct as I had lost interest in the Josh Lai interview due to the non stop cringeworthy questions, and I was in another room when I thought I heard one of the journos say `what's it like taking questions from d***heads like us?'

The whole thing was so cringeworthy I'm not going to put myself through listening to it again to find out if I heard what I thought I did, but regardless, the quality of that particular interview and those doing the interviewing was so bad it was beyond embarrassing!

Agree, I stopped listening too. Questions were so repetitive. They should limit the number of questions so players don't have to answer basically the same question over again.

 

[shewho]

Super interesting selection.

It appears the sum total of all game highlights available on the internet for Josh is one mark and one kick. How do Champion Data and AFL Fantasy assign him a position, never having seen him before?

Incredible to think about 10 months ago he was playing Suburban Under 18s and this week he beat a two time VFL Best and Fairest and captain to an AFL list spot. There must be something very special about this guy.

One of the last guys plucked from the Amateur Leagues to AFL was Joe Richards who had played TAC cup and had 3 Wangaratta B & Fs under his belt before Collingwood snapped him up- just before our pick (we were heavily linked with him prior to the draft). Compared to Josh Lai, Joe Richards was about as well known as Elvis before being AFL listed.

I cannot recall a more obscure listing than Josh's.

It continues an incredible off season for the recruitment of Js:

Jack Lukosius
Joe Richards
Joe Berry
Jack Whitlock
Jacob Moss
Josh Lai
Josh Carr

Jack Watkins must be every chance if Marshall is put on the Inactive List.

 

[Grave Danger]

Super interesting selection.

It appears the sum total of all game highlights available on the internet for Josh is one mark and one kick. How do Champion Data and AFL Fantasy assign him a position, never having seen him before?

Incredible to think about 10 months ago he was playing Suburban Under 18s and this week he beat a two time VFL Best and Fairest and captain to an AFL list spot. There must be something very special about this guy.

One of the last guys plucked from the Amateur Leagues to AFL was Joe Richards who had played TAC cup and had 3 Wangaratta B & Fs under his belt before Collingwood snapped him up- just before our pick (we were heavily linked with him prior to the draft). Compared to Josh Lai, Joe Richards was about as well known as Elvis before being AFL listed.

I cannot recall a more obscure listing than Josh's.

It continues an incredible off season for the recruitment of Js:

Jack Lukosius
Joe Richards
Joe Berry
Jack Whitlock
Jacob Moss
Josh Lai
Josh Carr

Jack Watkins must be every chance if Marshall is put on the Inactive List.

He should be an inspiration to those not lucky enough to make it through the elite (mostly private school) pathways, but I bet there'll be more than a few SANFool hacks that he'll come up against that will be envious rather than inspired, and only too willing to give him a hard time.