Disappointment of being overlooked in the AFL national draft to give Kalin Lane motivation to get better

After being overlooked in last week’s AFL national draft, Denmark-Walpole product Kalin Lane says he will use the disappointment as motivation to get better.

Eleven WA players were picked up in the national and rookie drafts last week, but Lane’s name was not called out by an AFL club.

With smaller list sizes, fewer players than usual were selected across the two drafts, making it tough for project players like Lane to get an opportunity.

Lane said he knew heading into the draft that getting picked up was going to be tough.

“I was always trying to not get my hopes up because you don’t know what can happen, so you prepare yourself for the worst,” he said.

“With the smaller lists it didn’t surprise me, there was a lot of great quality players that missed out.

“You just have to keep your head up and use it as motivation to get better next year.”

However his focus has quickly turned to next season as he looks take the step and become a senior ruckman with his WAFL club Claremont.

The 204cm talent hopes he can perform well in the first half of the season and possibly get selected in the AFL mid-season draft.

“I am trying to focus on getting a lot fitter, I think that was one of the things that let me down was my endurance,” he said.

“So I will just look to get a lot fitter and stronger and have a real good pre-season

“Hopefully I can start the season well in the seniors and hopefully a mid-season opportunity comes my way but if not I will just look to keep improving and enter the draft again next year.

“It’s going to be a lot harder to try and be recognised the year after your draft year, but I want to be the best league ruckman I can and hold my own against the opposition and stay on clubs’ radars.”

Lane was back at pre-season training with the Tigers this week and has his own running and weights program to complete over the Christmas and New Year break.