West Coast premiership ruckman Mark Seaby backs former amateur teammate Lachlan Blakiston ahead of AFL debut

Lachlan Blakiston shares a common trait with one of the greatest ruckmen of the modern era in Dean Cox — he’s a premiership teammate of Mark Seaby. Blakiston will make his AFL debut when he runs out for Essendon against Geelong at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, having been recruited by the Bombers with pick No.13 in last year’s mid-season rookie draft. It’s a long way from when he won a C-4 Perth Football League premiership in 2019 for the Cockburn Cobras alongside 2006 West Coast flag ruckman Seaby. The 203cm ruckman isn’t a newcomer to being a mature-age recruit, having made his WAFL league debut at 24 for East Fremantle in in 2023, having left South Fremantle after only one season and 10 reserves games a year prior. Blakiston would go on to become one of the premier ruckmen in the WAFL after finding his feet at East Fremantle last year before the 26-year-old was called upon by the Bombers to help cover their ruck crisis with injuries to Sam Draper (Achilles) and Nick Bryan (knee). And Seaby — who played 102 games for the Eagles and 18 for Sydney — could not be more proud of his premiership teammate who has made the incredible rise to the AFL. “Lachie definitely had the potential there he just had to figure it out the work-rate that was required even at the WAFL level and now the AFL,” Seaby told The West Australian. “He had good size about him, he had the athletic potential to there. “He’s had some guidance over the years to realise the work required, the effort required to put into your body to get to that next level.” Upon being drafted, Blakiston told The West Australian that he was ready to “conquer” the AFL. “I definitely thought my opportunity to get to the next level is not as likely as it was last year but there’s always hope when I was tracking the way I was,” he said. “At the trajectory I am on there’s no reason I couldn’t conquer AFL. The challenge and opportunity really excited me and I look forward to it.” Seaby said he would not be surprised if Blakiston thrived at the top level, having stepped up each time he’s pushed himself. “Anyone who gets their chance, takes it with both hands and is willing to put in the work required can achieve it,” he said. “He’s got the athletic ability to do it, he’s got the size to do it. It’s just whether he’s got the confidence in himself and the work that he’s put in to perform at the highest level. “I’ve got full confidence in Lachie that he can carve out a career at the AFL level now.”