Kalin in fast Lane to AFL

Up-and-coming Denmark ruckman Kalin Lane has been selected to attend the 2019-2020 NAB AFL Academy squads ahead of the national championships next year.

Lane, who has just finished Year 12 at Denmark Senior High School, is one of 28 WA players to receive an invitation.

He is one of the few players picked who has not been playing regular WAFL colts this season.

Lane played one colts game for Claremont when the club came to Albany.

The 204cm ruckman plays his local football for Denmark-Walpole Football Club — mainly for their league side — and is also part of the Great Southern Storm colts program.

Lane said he was excited to be picked for the academy and was eager to get stuck in.

“It’s a great opportunity to further develop my skills as a footballer and I’m honoured to be selected in the 28-man squad,” he said. “I plan on training hard and optimising my skills in the off-season in preparation for a big season of WAFL colts, where I will look to make an impact and go from there.

“I don’t really know what to expect from the academy, apart from a very high standard.”

Many people believe Lane has the potential to go all the way to the top level, following in the colossal footsteps of another Great Southern product, Aaron Sandilands.

“I’ve spoken with a few people around the Great Southern and in Perth who all think there is potential for me to go all the way to AFL,” he said.

The NAB AFL Academies will convene for the first time across the coming weeks, with WA holding their first camp from December 9 to 13.

“I’m extremely excited as I believe it’s the next step for me as a footballer and I really want to improve and become the best I can be,” he said. “I’m most looking forward to meeting a bunch of new players and playing at such a high level, as well as receiving some specialist ruck training which will be very beneficial.” Lane’s chances of being drafted have been backed up by statistics.

Since the NAB AFL Academy’s inception in 1997, 515 players (81 per cent of all players) have been drafted to AFL clubs.

“My major goal is pretty much getting drafted next year,” Lane said. “I’m prepared to put in the work to achieve that.”

Lane will participate in a three-week training program starting on November 18. He will also attend camps in January and April, with smaller programs to run in-between.

The Magpies ruckman met with St Kilda’s head scout at their Moorabbin headquarters earlier this year, getting a tour of the facilities and information about the drafting process.