Sam Lalor smacks down claims about Dustin Martin as brutal snub comes to light
Questions are being asked about why Sam Lalor didn't receive any coaches' votes for his stunning AFL debut for Richmond, amid new revelations he's set to cash in on an unfortunate X-rated gaffe. The No.1 draft pick scored two goals on debut as the Tigers came back from the dead to beat Carlton in Round 1.
The 18-year-old earned a Rising Star nomination for his contributions, but the respective coaches left him out in the cold. Daniel Hoyne of Champion Data revealed on SEN radio on Wednesday that Lalor was the fourth-highest rated player on the ground and should have received more love in the Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year voting.
'Sam Lalor was the fourth-highest rated player on the ground and didn't get a vote,' Hoyne said. 'That was actually the fourth-highest rated game by an 18-year-old we have seen in 15 years of doing our ratings.'
Lalor wasn't the only player who Hoyne believes was overlooked, naming Josh Ward (Hawthorn), Braeden Campbell (Sydney), Matt Kennedy (Western Bulldogs) and Brayden Maynard (Collingwood) as players who should have received votes but didn't. Maynard's teammate Nick Daicos got five votes, but Hoyne said of Maynard: 'Second-highest rated player on the ground, didn't get a vote from the coaches. That was the third-highest rated game of his career. Two goals, very unlike Brayden, but incredibly influential against Port Adelaide.'
Meanwhile, Lalor has moved to hose down comparisons to Tigers legend Dustin Martin, with many labelling him "No.4 reincarnate". The similarities between Martin and his heir apparent were hard to miss at the MCG, with Lalor fending off multiple Blues players like Dusty used to do.
"If I could be half as good a player as he was, I'd be pretty happy," Lalor said on Tuesday. "But no, I don't see too many similarities. I try to play a bit like him. No one in the club has said anything, so that's all I care about really."
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There were calls for Richmond to hand Lalor the famous No.4 guernsey worn by Martin when the teenager was drafted. But the club ultimately decided to 'retire' it for a season to pay respect to Martin, who retired at the end of 2024.
"You've got to earn your stripes and you've got to deserve the number," Lalor said. "If it happens in the next few years or whatever, I'd happily take it, but for now I'm happy with 22."
It comes after details emerged on Tuesday of how Lalor is set to capitalise on a wardrobe malfunction that exposed him to a national audience during his debut. Lalor accidentally let it all hang out after kicking his second goal - after his underwear didn't do their job properly.
But teammate Jack Ross has revealed that Bonds sent Lalor a message about teaming up for a potential sponsorship deal. 'I won't comment too much, but Bonds messaged him and they are going to tee up a deal,' Ross said on Triple M radio.
Sam Lalor is on the brink of a Bonds sponsorship after he exposed more than his footy skills in his debut performance...@SENBreakfast | #AFL pic.twitter.com/PxyOG2VCh6
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) March 18, 2025
Lalor was fully aware of the X-rated moment and used an eggplant emoji in a message he wrote on social media after the game. Teammate Tim Taranto then tagged Bonds on Instagram so they'd see what happened.
Big week for Sam Lalor - first game, first win & rising star nomination. After his MCG wardrobe malfunction I can confirm he and his management are in talks with Bonds. Marketing genius @FOXFOOTY #AFL
— Drew Jones (@DrewJonesFOX) March 18, 2025
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