Chris Lamb
Encyclopedia
Chris Lamb is a former Australian rules football
er who played with the Melbourne Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL) and with the Sandringham Football Club in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
team. He also played for the Wodonga Raiders
in the Ovens & Murray Football League
and for the Murray Bushrangers
in the TAC Cup
, winning the Bushrangers' Under 16 Development Award in 1997. Lamb also received All-Australian honours, playing for the Victorian Country team at the 1998 AFL National Under 18 Championships
, in conjunction with being named in the "TAC Cup Team of the Year". Along with his footballing abilities, Lamb was also a highly regarded basketball
player, representing the Australian under-16 and under-18 teams.
. Likened to Danny Frawley
, many experts were suggesting that he would be a top five draft selection, but he slipped through to the 13th selection and was taken by Melbourne. The Demons' recruiting manager at the time, Craig Cameron, claimed Lamb was "one of the top five players in the draft" and the Demons were excited to draft him.
It was hoped that Lamb would develop into a key player for the Demons to replace the aging Jamie Shanahan
and Anthony Ingerson
. After a "very good pre-season", Lamb made his AFL debut in the first match of the 1999 season and he had eight disposals. He was again selected the following week, but he only had two touches for the game and was comprehensively beaten by Barry Hall
. Lamb was dropped for round 3, despite it being noted that "he rarely had goals kicked on him". Lamb spent the rest of the season playing for Melbourne's VFL-affiliate, Sandringham. He also spent the whole of the 2000 season playing for the Zebras. Sandringham made the VFL Grand Final, but Lamb was injured and he missed the match. At the start of the 2001 season, Lamb broke into the team for his first AFL match in almost two years. He was, however, dropped the following week and he only played two more for matches for the Demons in 2001.
The 2002 season started poorly for Lamb, as he spent the first half of the season with Sandringham. His opportunity came in round 12. One of Melbourne's key defensive players, Alastair Nicholson
, had injured his knee the previous week and Lamb was required to fill in for him. Despite not having a possession, he was selected for the next game. Lamb began to play well, becoming a key figure in the Demons' defence and playing every game for the rest of the season. In round 15, he kicked his first, and only, AFL goal. In a match late on the 2002 home and away season, Lamb attempted a spoil and landed awkwardly on his neck. He was motionless for several minutes and there were concerns that he may have broken his neck. The incident was described as "sickening", but Lamb only had a slight concussion and he played the following week. He also played in both of Melbourne's finals in 2002, was awarded the Demons' "Most Improved Player" at the end of the year and was described as "the find Melbourne's 2002 season". Lamb signed a new contract with Melbourne at the end of the season.
Despite his form in 2002 and his continued good play for Sandringham, where he was regularly named best on ground, Lamb was unable to gain a consistent position in the seniors in 2003, regularly being overlooked. He played one game in round 2 against Essendon
, but was only on field for a quarter before being benched for the rest of the game after being beaten by Matthew Lloyd
. Midway through the season, after two best on ground performances for the Zebras, a rumour of a rift between Lamb and coach, Neale Daniher
, began to grow. Daniher dismissed the rumour, saying that the reason Lamb was out of the side was because "he had to lose some weight, improve his endurance and mobility, and learn to play further afield". After he was dropped, he lost four kilograms, improved as a player up the ground and was regularly one of Sandringham's best players. Although Daniher had said "[h]e'll be back", Lamb only played two more games in 2003 and it appeared that he lost favour with the Melbourne coaching staff, as the Melbourne defence was lacking in height and strong bodies, which Lamb could have provided. His last game was against Adelaide. Crows forward, Ian Perrie
, kicked two goals on Lamb in the first quarter and he was benched for the rest of the game. Lamb was dropped for the next match and he never made his way back into Melbourne's senior team and was labelled "exiled".
Lamb was retained on the Demons list for 2004, but he failed to play a senior game for the season, instead playing with Sandringham for the whole season. Although a disappointing year for Lamb, in terms of senior appearances, he did win a VFL premiership with Sandrinham, taking a saving mark in the dying seconds, to help the Zebras hold on to victory. Melbourne delisted Lamb at the end of the season.
of premierships. In his first season back, Lamb played at full back all season and was a key member of Sandringham's premiership winning team. Lamb played his 100th game in the first round of 2007. At the end of the season, he won the "Coaches Award" and was named as full back in the VFL Team of the Year. Lamb played on for one more season and retired at the end of 2008. He finished his career with Sandringham having played 137 games.
by St Kilda, but was delisted at the end of the 1998 season, having never played an AFL match.
Lamb was the best man at his team-mate, Troy Broadbridge
's, wedding. Broadbridge died only days later while on his honeymoon, as a result of the Boxing Day Tsunami.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL) and with the Sandringham Football Club in the Victorian Football League
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
(VFL).
Early life
Lamb was a talented junior sportsman. As a footballer, he toured Ireland in 1998, as part of an Australian Institute of SportAustralian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
team. He also played for the Wodonga Raiders
Wodonga Raiders Football Club
The Wodonga Raiders FC, originally played in the Tallangatta & District Football League as the Kergunyah Football Club. This club once played in the Yackandandah DFA....
in the Ovens & Murray Football League
Ovens & Murray Football League
The Ovens and Murray Football League, often referred to locally as the O&M, is a semi-professional Australian rules football league based around ten clubs in north-eastern Victoria and the southern Riverina region of New South Wales, and affiliated with the Victorian Country Football League...
and for the Murray Bushrangers
Murray Bushrangers
Murray Bushrangers is an Australian rules football team playing in TAC Cup since 1993 based in Wangaratta. The team trains in WJ Findlay Oval. The team is coached by Darren Ogier...
in the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
, winning the Bushrangers' Under 16 Development Award in 1997. Lamb also received All-Australian honours, playing for the Victorian Country team at the 1998 AFL National Under 18 Championships
AFL National Under 18 Championships
The NAB AFL Under 18 Championships are the annual national Australian rules football championships for players aged 18 years or younger. The competition is seen as one of the main pathways towards being drafted into a team in the fully professional Australian Football League...
, in conjunction with being named in the "TAC Cup Team of the Year". Along with his footballing abilities, Lamb was also a highly regarded basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, representing the Australian under-16 and under-18 teams.
AFL career
Due to his successful junior career, many AFL clubs were interested in the 17-year-old Lamb at the 1998 AFL Draft1998 AFL Draft
The 1998 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and a rookie elevation. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.In 1998 there...
. Likened to Danny Frawley
Danny Frawley
Danny Frawley is a former Australian rules footballer and coach and a current football commentator with Fox Sports.He is the nephew of Collingwood player Des Tuddenham and the uncle of current Melbourne Football Club player James Frawley.- Football career :Recruited from Ballarat, after attending...
, many experts were suggesting that he would be a top five draft selection, but he slipped through to the 13th selection and was taken by Melbourne. The Demons' recruiting manager at the time, Craig Cameron, claimed Lamb was "one of the top five players in the draft" and the Demons were excited to draft him.
It was hoped that Lamb would develop into a key player for the Demons to replace the aging Jamie Shanahan
Jamie Shanahan
James "Jamie" Shanahan is a former Australian rules footballer who played for St Kilda and Melbourne in the Australian Football League .-Early career:...
and Anthony Ingerson
Anthony Ingerson
Anthony Ingerson is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Adelaide and Melbourne in the Australian Football League ....
. After a "very good pre-season", Lamb made his AFL debut in the first match of the 1999 season and he had eight disposals. He was again selected the following week, but he only had two touches for the game and was comprehensively beaten by Barry Hall
Barry Hall
Barry Hall is a former Australian rules footballer. Hall is considered to be one of the best forwards of the modern era, being named All-Australian, leading his club's goalkicking on nine occasions and captaining the Sydney Swans to their 2005 AFL Grand Final victory...
. Lamb was dropped for round 3, despite it being noted that "he rarely had goals kicked on him". Lamb spent the rest of the season playing for Melbourne's VFL-affiliate, Sandringham. He also spent the whole of the 2000 season playing for the Zebras. Sandringham made the VFL Grand Final, but Lamb was injured and he missed the match. At the start of the 2001 season, Lamb broke into the team for his first AFL match in almost two years. He was, however, dropped the following week and he only played two more for matches for the Demons in 2001.
The 2002 season started poorly for Lamb, as he spent the first half of the season with Sandringham. His opportunity came in round 12. One of Melbourne's key defensive players, Alastair Nicholson
Alastair Nicholson
Alastair Bothwick Nicholson AO RFD QC was the Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia from 1988 until 2004.Nicholson was born in 1938 in Melbourne returning with his mother Jean to Papua New Guinea , where his parents owned a rubber and coconut plantation...
, had injured his knee the previous week and Lamb was required to fill in for him. Despite not having a possession, he was selected for the next game. Lamb began to play well, becoming a key figure in the Demons' defence and playing every game for the rest of the season. In round 15, he kicked his first, and only, AFL goal. In a match late on the 2002 home and away season, Lamb attempted a spoil and landed awkwardly on his neck. He was motionless for several minutes and there were concerns that he may have broken his neck. The incident was described as "sickening", but Lamb only had a slight concussion and he played the following week. He also played in both of Melbourne's finals in 2002, was awarded the Demons' "Most Improved Player" at the end of the year and was described as "the find Melbourne's 2002 season". Lamb signed a new contract with Melbourne at the end of the season.
Despite his form in 2002 and his continued good play for Sandringham, where he was regularly named best on ground, Lamb was unable to gain a consistent position in the seniors in 2003, regularly being overlooked. He played one game in round 2 against Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, but was only on field for a quarter before being benched for the rest of the game after being beaten by Matthew Lloyd
Matthew Lloyd
Matthew James Lloyd is a former Australian rules footballer who played for and was the captain of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League...
. Midway through the season, after two best on ground performances for the Zebras, a rumour of a rift between Lamb and coach, Neale Daniher
Neale Daniher
Neale Francis Daniher is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League . Neale was also an Assistant Coach to the Essendon and Fremantle Football Clubs and the Coach of the Victorian State Team and the Melbourne Football Club...
, began to grow. Daniher dismissed the rumour, saying that the reason Lamb was out of the side was because "he had to lose some weight, improve his endurance and mobility, and learn to play further afield". After he was dropped, he lost four kilograms, improved as a player up the ground and was regularly one of Sandringham's best players. Although Daniher had said "[h]e'll be back", Lamb only played two more games in 2003 and it appeared that he lost favour with the Melbourne coaching staff, as the Melbourne defence was lacking in height and strong bodies, which Lamb could have provided. His last game was against Adelaide. Crows forward, Ian Perrie
Ian Perrie
Ian Perrie was an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.After being drafted at pick number 49 in the 1997 AFL Draft, Ian Perrie debuted for Adelaide in Round 13, 1998. While no one questioned his endeavor, Perrie was initially thought to not have the skills required to be a...
, kicked two goals on Lamb in the first quarter and he was benched for the rest of the game. Lamb was dropped for the next match and he never made his way back into Melbourne's senior team and was labelled "exiled".
Lamb was retained on the Demons list for 2004, but he failed to play a senior game for the season, instead playing with Sandringham for the whole season. Although a disappointing year for Lamb, in terms of senior appearances, he did win a VFL premiership with Sandrinham, taking a saving mark in the dying seconds, to help the Zebras hold on to victory. Melbourne delisted Lamb at the end of the season.
VFL career
After being delisted by Melbourne, Lamb spent 2005 travelling. When he returned to Melbourne in 2006, Lamb signed with Sandringham in the VFL, saying the Zebras were the "only [c]lub [he] would play for". Sandringham had also won the VFL premiership in 2005 and they were looking to win a hat-trickHat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
of premierships. In his first season back, Lamb played at full back all season and was a key member of Sandringham's premiership winning team. Lamb played his 100th game in the first round of 2007. At the end of the season, he won the "Coaches Award" and was named as full back in the VFL Team of the Year. Lamb played on for one more season and retired at the end of 2008. He finished his career with Sandringham having played 137 games.
Personal life
Lamb's brother, Andrew was also drafted by an AFL team. He was taken with the 36th selection in the 1995 Draft1995 AFL Draft
The 1995 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1995 Australian Football League season.The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football clubs that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.Clubs receive picks based...
by St Kilda, but was delisted at the end of the 1998 season, having never played an AFL match.
Lamb was the best man at his team-mate, Troy Broadbridge
Troy Broadbridge
Troy Broadbridge was an Australian rules footballer with the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Melbourne career :...
's, wedding. Broadbridge died only days later while on his honeymoon, as a result of the Boxing Day Tsunami.