#9
Lance Collard
height: 180cm
weight: 65kg
D.O.B: 26-03-2005
Leagues: AFL U18 Championships
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Snapshot
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Analysis
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Summary
SNAPSHOT: “A mercurial small forward with a deep bag of tricks, Lance Collard is one of Western Australia’s most exciting prospects, with his ability to create something from nothing.”
West Coast NGA product Lance Collard shapes as one of the more interesting names in this draft class. A top-end talent with some freakish highlights, the Subiaco star is a classy, high-octane small forward, demonstrating similar traits to Bobby Hill or Shai Bolton with his ability to change a game.
After an injury interrupted bottom-age campaign, Collard hit the ground running in 2023, booting 15 goals in the first six games, including a six-goal bag in the WAFL Colts Super Round to earn selection in the West Australian Under 18 squad.
Collard had an indifferent National Carnival, playing forward in a struggling side, but he showed glimpses of his talents, booting two last-quarter goals against Vic Country to almost spark his state to an upset victory.
Returning to Subiaco, the 18-year-old enjoyed a dominant finals series, booting 10 goals across two games to almost lead the Lions further into the postseason off his own boot. He finished the campaign with 32 goals across 11 Colts games to average the most majors of any small forward in the competition.
STRENGTHS:
+ Aerial ability
+ Agility
+ Forward craft
+ Finishing
+ Speed
+ X-factor
IMPROVEMENTS:
- Consistency
- Discipline
- Opposite foot
Collard is the prototypical small forward who can beat his opponent in a variety of ways. Whether the contest is aerial, at ground level, or he is working through a stoppage, he has a deep bag of tricks and can make something happen from any given situation to make his defender feel nervous. In this sense, his mere presence is a factor, as he only needs a couple of touches or a single moment to influence a game profoundly.
The Subiaco product is blessed with some elite athletic traits to compliment his game. Lightning quick off the mark, Collard uses his pace to good effect, often getting goal-side of his opponent and burning them back towards goal. His first goal for WA against Vic Country, where he slipped free of a Luamon Lual tackle before sprinting away and finishing on the run, is a perfect illustration of this. He also possesses quick feet in traffic and good agility to evade opponents and create space for himself.
For a smaller player, Collard has a terrific leap, which he showcased multiple times during the season. He produced a catalogue of audacious marking attempts, grasping a couple of sensational grabs in the process, and putting his name forward as a future Mark of the Year contender with his propensity to sit on heads.
As a finisher, Collard is a terrific exponent of the snap on the run, kicking several goals from acute angles by using both the inside and outside of his boot. He is also a good ball user around the ground, often looking to play on and send the ball inside 50 quickly. He could look to improve his non-preferred side though, having been caught out on occasion for lacking a left foot.
In terms of improvement, Collard will look to enhance the consistency of his output, both across a game and a season. Admittedly, while small forward is arguably the most difficult position to play, Collard often flashed in and out of games, particularly at the National Championships. He can also be overzealous at times, and while this is a sign of his competitive streak, he can let this spill over into undisciplined play.
DRAFT RANGE: 15-30
SUMMARY
A genuine human highlight reel, there are few players in the draft pool that can light up a game the way Collard can when on song. While far from the finished product, he has shown enough to suggest his speed, class and game-breaking abilities will be an asset to any AFL club – particularly in the right environment. Given his late season form and obvious upside, his name appears likely to be called inside the first 40 picks, making him available for a club to snatch despite his ties to West Coast.
AFL U18 Championships
Season | Team | K | HB | D | M | CP | UP | T | HO | CLR | I50 | R50 | GL | GM | K | H | D | M | HO | T | G | DC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Western Australia | 7 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 19 |
Total | - | 7 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 19 |