Denmark-Walpole ruckman Kalin Lane is AFL bound after mid-season rookie selection from Brisbane Lions

Denmark-Walpole ruckman Kalin Lane has been drafted to the AFL, picked up by the Brisbane Lions in this afternoon’s mid-season rookie draft.

Hailing from Walpole, the 204cm ruckman has been playing senior football with Claremont in the WAFL this season before being snapped up by the Lions with pick 14.

The 19-year-old missed out on selection in last year’s national draft but used that disappointment as motivation to take his game to another level.

He impressed in his WAFL league debut for the Tigers in round three with 26 hit-outs, 11 touches and kicked a goal.

That was his only league game but has been a regular performer in the reserves where he averages 29 hit-outs, 14 disposals and three marks.

The exciting prospect has played just 18 games of WAFL in total after moving to Perth last year and played colts for the Tigers, featuring in 11 games including their losing grand final side.

Lions’ recruiting manager Stephen Conole said Lane was a natural footballer who had the potential to develop into a quality player under the guidance of Lions’ development coaches.

“Kalin played a handful of colts games last year and has shown promising growth with his ruck craft and game IQ since moving into the senior program at the Tigers,” Conole said.

“He’ll add to our existing list of promising young talls nicely, and will no doubt develop a great deal at our club.”

The Lions, who sit third on the AFL ladder, created the spot for Lane by moving Cam Rayner (ACL) to the long-term injury list.

Lane is the latest WA product to be picked up by the Lions following the recent success of Jaxon Prior and Deven Robertson.

Oscar McInerney (204cm) is the Lions first choice ruckman having played 10 games this season.

The Lions have also used 200cm ruck-forward Tom Fullarton in four games this season while Archie Smith (201cm) and Henry Smith (206cm) have not played a senior game.

Prized recruit Joe Daniher has been used as the back-up ruckman for the majority of the year thus far.

A talented basketballer, Lane knocked back a US scholarship as a teenager and played senior football in 2019 with the Denmark-Walpole Football Club in the Great Southern Football League before making the big leap to Perth to further his dream of playing in the AFL.

He was part of the Great Southern Storm, a football program that helps young talent before they try their luck at WAFL level.