Lalor Wins Rising Star Nomination Despite Broken Jaw

Rising Star Recognition

Exciting news for the Tiger Army as our young gun Sam Lalor has been awarded the Telstra AFL Rising Star nomination for round one following his exceptional performance against Carlton. The talented youngster recorded 18 disposals, eight score involvements and two goals in Richmond's thrilling comeback victory.

Overcoming Adversity

What makes Lalor's achievement even more remarkable is his recovery from a broken jaw suffered in February's match simulation against West Coast. The determined Tiger revealed he only started eating solid food one day before his debut after weeks on a liquid diet following surgery.

Lalor said. "I was told to take the surgery and potentially be right for round one, or if I don't, I'd be available in rounds five to six. So it was a pretty clear decision for me. Early days, it was pretty much a soup diet, yoghurt, a lot of protein shakes. As I could open my mouth a bit more, I had a bit of risotto. I lost a fair bit of muscle mass, but a fair bit of fat as well, so I trimmed down a bit, which wasn't the worst thing."

Memorable Debut

Lalor was still buzzing after Thursday night's come-from-behind victory over Carlton, where the Tigers chipped away at a 41-point deficit to eventually win by 13 points in the season opener. Lalor said. "I didn't know what to think after the game, but it's sunk in now, it was an unreal experience."

"The crowd gives you the chills, it's like having another player out there, and makes everything easier when the crowd's behind you. The Tiger Army is so good at it, they're so loud," Lalor shared, "I don't reckon I got to bed till about four in the morning, I was just buzzing from the energy from the crowd and thinking about the win."

Future Tiger Stars

Lalor was one of three Tiger debutants on Thursday night, playing alongside Harry Armstrong and Luke Trainor. Richmond brought in an impressive eight draftees in November, with this talented crew set to form the nucleus of the side for years to come. "We've formed a really good connection. We do a lot of things around the club together, and I can't wait for the future, " Lalor said. "Three of us obviously played, but there's going to be so many more this year, and it's going to be so good when we're all playing together. I think we're going to be a very good side in the years to come."

Mentorship Matters

The rookie spent his first seven weeks of pre-season living with veteran Nathan Broad, his wife Tayla and toddler Samara, developing a close bond that was evident on game day. "They're the best, I still go over and have dinner and see them. They were like older siblings to me, and I'm so grateful for what they did for me"

Lalor said. "It was so good to be out there playing with 'Broady'. When I kicked my first goal, I remember seeing 'Broady' run from the backline and he just gave me a massive hug. It was super special, and I couldn't thank [the Broads] enough."

Looking Ahead

The Tigers' stunning comeback against Carlton has energised the Tiger Army and set a positive tone for the 2025 season. With young talents like Lalor showing such promise, there's plenty to be excited about as we prepare for our next challenge. Don't miss our next match as Richmond takes on Port Adelaide this Saturday, March 22 at the Adelaide Oval. Come out and support our Rising Star and the team as we look to build on our round one success. Go Tigers!