2023 rating: “It was a great experience, key to his return to the AFL. Fortune favors the brave: Fogarty’s transformation after 12 months Lachie Fogarty is uncertain about playing another senior AFL game.
but his luck has changed.
A year in the making
As Lachie Fogarty watched his 2023 season, he couldn’t have imagined the future What will his future in football be?
Having suffered a serious back injury that has kept him on the sidelines for much of 2022 and a return to the VFL in 2023, Fogarty is uncertain about a return to the senior team.
But he always believed he could still make an impact at the highest level.
“Honestly, when I came back, I was so grateful to be playing football again,” Fogarty said.
“I was coming off a pretty serious back injury and for me, it was about enjoyment and getting back to why I love the game.
“Injury recovery was the first step of many for the 24-year-old in 2023.
The next was getting some form back in the VFL, showing he was ready to return to the senior side after 43 games in his first five seasons.
Relishing being back playing football under Luke Power with the Carlton Reserves, Fogarty, who had an extended run in the VFL, was clear on what he needed to work on, praising the coaching staff’s clarity on his role.
“I was playing a bit more forward in the VFL and I felt like that was my best opportunity to get a game in the ones,” he said.
“Working closely with Torin Baker [the development coach], we just focused on specific running patterns, playing as that high half-forward, and also just focusing on my strengths: my ball handling, decision making and also my pressure.
“It’s pretty clear and I know that if I do these things, I’ve played my part and I’ll be rewarded for it.
“Fogarty’s perseverance certainly paid off; he got his chance on matchday 14 against Carlton, which was also the start of a nine-match winning streak for the Blues.
His stat line may read 10 kills and a goal, but what’s immeasurable is the mental barrier Fogarty overcame after a year away.
“It’s almost like the first game again because it’s been 14 or 15 months since my last AFL game and I remember a lot of people texting me, congratulating me on getting back into the team.
” , he declared.
“It was a beautiful day.
I remember Charlie scoring a goal for me in the box and it was a great feeling—it was the first win we had had after a difficult few months.
The momentum that followed in the second half of the season was unprecedented.
Fogarty played a key role, missing just one match after returning, playing in all three finals and having his contract extended for another year as a reward for his determination and hard work.
“I always believed I could play at the AFL level; I just felt I needed this opportunity and I’m grateful to the club for giving me another year,” he declared.
“I’ve had some obstacles along the way, but they’ve shown faith in me and I just want to get to work now, continue to improve and reward them for their trust.
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