Lachy leads the way in under-16 competition

All that from just seven of a possible nine appearance, Lachlan, 15, went on to win by a whopping 10-vote margin, with Wanderers’ Oskar Smartt and Hogan's teammate Jobe Shanahan rounding out the top three on seven and six votes respectively. He also would go on to win the league Most Valuable Player award.

Lachlan himself was surprised by the honour, and in his speech, credited his teammates for making him the player he was.

In fact, such was Moama's dominance this season that five players finished with four of more votes, with Lachlan joined in the top 11 by Jobe as well as Mitchell Bell (5), Arj Wheelan (4) and Mitch Hipwell (4).

“I sort of knew I might have had a chance, but I didn’t expect to win by that much,” Lachlan said.

“I was pretty happy with the year. We’d come into each week not full of ourselves, but knowing we probably had a good chance of winning the game.

“We prepared really well during the week."

Lachlan said his biggest disappointment was not playing finals this season, with the only thing to cut the Magpies’ undefeated run to a flag short being COVID-19 lockdowns. A minor premiership was the consolation.

“Not getting to play in the finals series, it was pretty sad, I thought we’d have a chance of winning that,” Lachlan said.

“But at the end of the day I was happy with what I did this year, happy with how the team went and happy to be at this club in general.”

Lachlan's love for his home club is undeniable when you speak to him, the teenager adamant he wouldn't want to be anywhere other than where he started his football journey at an Auskick level.

Playing among the “best facilities by a country mile”, Lachlan said he couldn’t be happier to be back at Moama this season after playing what little football there was in 2020 at Echuca.

“It’s been good to be back and around everyone, it makes me happy,” he said.

There is little doubt that enjoyment with his football this year is why Lachlan has strung together several consistent performances, capped off by winning another best and fairest at Moama's club under-16 awards night last week.

He later added to his collection by taking out the team's leading goal scorer award after spending equal parts of the year in the midfield and forward lines.

“I won the club goal kicking with 33, and my teammate Jobe Shanahan came second with 29 — me and him had a bit of battle going on coming towards the end of the year to see who would kick the most goals,” Lachlan said.

“I don’t mind a goal and a celebration every now and then, it’s fun, but I prefer playing off half back and reading the footy.

“You know when to go and when to defend. I find defending is one of the most fun parts of my game.”

Coached by his father, Rob Hogan, this season, Lachlan said he couldn't have asked for a better coach.

“Some people may not like their dad coaching, but I like my dad getting involved,” he said.

“He can watch you as a player and as a son, and gives you good feedback.

“He does give me some criticism but I find I can use that as a tool to get the best out of what he gives me.”

Rob himself couldn't be prouder of Lachlan and his achievements this year.

“It is a good reward, because he works really hard at it, not just on game day and at training,” he said.

“He does a lot outside as well to keep improving and trying to be better.

“Lachy on an individual basis has had an outstanding year, he played his role, when he needed to kick goals he did, and when he needed to get the ball out of the middle he was doing that too."

But it was team success that drove the Hogans the hardest this season, with Rob proud of the work that every player put in.

“The team were outstanding all year, every game they did extremely well,” he said.

"Right across the board, being a squad of 25 kids, all of them contributed in some way to the team having that success.

“This is a pretty driven group, and the fact they missed the previous season, I think they were more keen to go again this year.

“They kept trying to get better, so every training session we had nearly everyone there, and you just saw it come together on game day."

As for what is on the horizon for Lachlan, the St Joseph's student said a senior debut with Moama would be a major milestone he looks to tick off next season, as well as taking his game to the next level through his under-17 commitments with the club.

“I’m going to try and play a bit of seniors under the sub rule, I'm going to set a few goals at the start of the year next year,” he said.

“Hopefully just start ticking them off with my Bendigo Pioneers, and just see how far I can get my footy to go.

Coming into the end of this season, Lachlan was invited to train with the seniors, which gave him his first taste of playing against older talent.

“A couple of the coaches and I were talking, and said ‘should I just go down and see where I am at’ and test myself against some bigger bodies, and I thought I went all right,” he said.

“I’m starting to find now I’m not going to be that tall, and I realising I’m going to have to put on some extra muscle, head to the gym a bit more.

“I’m going to head into a pre-season with the seniors coming up in November and December, and try and get as fit as possible, keep ticking the miles off in my legs and eat as well as possible.”

Finding more representative opportunities with the Bendigo Pioneers, with whom he currently plays with the under-16s, is another goal of Lachlan's.

“For the Pioneers, I just want to play the best footy I can with them, and try and put my name out there and see if I can get as far as possible with that,” he said.

“But at the end of the day, if that doesn’t work out, I’ve still got Moama, I know they are going to do as much possible for me to get me to the highest level I can play at.

"Moama is where I want to be at, but any of that representative footy, I’m just grateful for the opportunity.

“I’m going to do as much as possible to set myself those goals and try and get there."

Lachlan thanked his parents, Rob and Jamee, as well as brother Jaxon for their support this season.

“They go all around the state for my footy and I can’t thank them enough for all the time and money they’ve spent for me,” he said.