Player Watch Welcome to Port Adelaide SSP (2025) - Josh Lai

[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.

 

[Jonts]

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.

Also lazy cause I know for a fact that the grand final Lai was BOG in was filmed,

 

[Coobk001]

'You Know'

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

Ya know, I'm happy, ya know, that we're giving him a chance, ya know, it'll be a huge story if the kid actually turns out to be, ya know, good.

Hopefully we look back on that interview and laugh in 10 years when he's a polished media performer and a 200 AFL game veteran.

 

[klem22]

Is there any real reason to get excited about Lai???
Speaking from a distance he dosent look much to me!
Or is this another failed campaign to extract talent out of nothing???
As usual I hope I'm wrong but who knows.

 

[True__Believer]

Is there any real reason to get excited about Lai???
Speaking from a distance he dosent look much to me!
Or is this another failed campaign to extract talent out of nothing???
As usual I hope I'm wrong but who knows.

We don't know, and that's the beauty of it. There are no sure things in drafting and from time to time there are some hidden gems uncovered (See: Logan Evans). There are probably plenty of guys playing in lower leagues who could absolutely make it but never get a chance. A mix of luck and better coaching/facilities/training/environment can change a lot.

 

[VineValerian]

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.

Jumping Jehoshaphat

 

[Lefti93]

From the limited highlights I can see why we were impressed with him, good movement, solid hands and kicking looks good too. Could be a steal.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

Dan Houston clone wtf

 

[Enviable Tradition]

From the limited highlights I can see why we were impressed with him, good movement, solid hands and kicking looks good too. Could be a steal.

I can see him having a Logan Evans like immediate impact.

Seems to have the pace, size and endurance to impact straight away.

Can't wait to see him in a trial game.

On SM-G975F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Enviable Tradition]

Hes got serious wheels. Daniel Flynn like.

On SM-G975F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Lefti93]

May be a tad unpopular but he reminds me of Riley Bonner with his movement. Especially early days when he was taking everyone on in those trial games.

 

[jac147]

I think it was highlight #7, where a delightful foot pass to a leading Tim Evans was pretty, bloody good. Sign him up!

 

[jackag24]

Yeesh he's pretty quick

 

[YoungsterPA]

hard to explain but he moves like an AFL player, could have an impact.

 

[VineValerian]

I think it was highlight #7, where a delightful foot pass to a leading Tim Evans was pretty, bloody good. Sign him up!

A few reports were saying that he's a left footer.

Don't think he kicked a single one in those highlights on his leftie

Looks like his speed from a standing start and evasion skills are pretty impressive!

 

[Jakksynn]

The most impressive part of those highlights for me is his ability to hit a leading forward by foot. The challenge will be to do it with the heat turned up a few notches, won’t get that much time and space at SANFL level, let alone AFL.

 

[TeeKray]

I've had a good hard think about this and have come to the conclusion from the highlights that he has O'Shea like traits.

 

[afl2004]

I've had a good hard think about this and have come to the conclusion from the highlights that he has O'Shea like traits.

We should call him roller

 

[Ford Fairlane]

His size, build, speed and ability to turn on a 5c piece made me think of Matt White. I think someone has already mentioned that comparison. Can take a serious mark too.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

I'm a pretty big fan of the Josh Lai signing.

A young kid who has a lot of attributes who didn't cost anything.

Good luck. I can't wait to see him put on the jets.

 

[Butters and Pepper]

Clearly will be a triple Brownlow Medallist at the least.

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

Very explosive and has natural football talent

Rooting for this kid, hoping for a true Cinderella story!

 

[Peninsula Boy]

I can see him having a Logan Evans like immediate impact.

Seems to have the pace, size and endurance to impact straight away.

Can't wait to see him in a trial game.

On SM-G975F using BigFooty.com mobile app

That's a big call but I like it.

 

[Willsy10]

Nice pace but his skills look pretty polished too, great overhead mark. Looks like there is plenty of good stuff to work with.

Glad we picked him over Watkins.


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