SNAPSHOT: “A dangerous small forward who plays with swagger and speed, capable of impacting the scoreboard and applying heavy pressure.” – James Bell Coming into his draft year, Lachy Dovaston had already established himself as one to watch. He was exceptional for Vic Metro at the Under 16 National Championships in 2023, and was named on the interchange of the All-Australian team. After surprisingly being left out of the National Academy for 2025, the talented small forward clearly had a point to prove and ended up producing a year full of highlights. Dovaston was named in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year after his consistent season for the Eastern Ranges. He averaged 16 disposals and kicked 38 goals across his 16 games, building upon his solid bottom-age campaign in 2024. His 24 disposals and two goals in the Grand Final was crucial as his side ran out 15-point winners against three-time reigning champion, Sandringham. For Vic Metro, he was similarly damaging, averaging more than two goals a match and 13 disposals across the four games. His standout performance came in the seven-goal victory over the Allies, where he drilled four majors and had 18 disposals. He was subsequently included in the National Championships All-Australian side for 2025. Dovaston also featured at VFL level for the Box Hill Hawks where his tenacity translated successfully. He finished the Round 20 clash against eventual premier, Footscray, with 18 disposals and 1.3, showcasing his ability to impact at the next level. Late in the year, he proved his athletic potential, testing impressively at the National Draft Combine to register the event’s fourth-best ever agility test time of 7.794 seconds. STRENGTHS: + Agility + Consistency + Defensive pressure + Scoreboard impact + Speed + Work rate IMPROVEMENTS: - Goalkicking accuracy - Size Despite what his goalkicking record would suggest, Dovaston is not just a stay-at-home small forward. The speedy small goes out of his way to impact contests, provide overlap run, and regularly serves as a release option up around the ground. He can dart away from traffic and drill low-trajectory passes to leading teammates, making him a threat across half-forward. Dovaston’s willingness to impact outside of the forward 50 arc is a feature of his game that aided him when he stepped up to the VFL. When forward 50 entries were coming infrequently, Dovaston was able to create turnovers and help in transitioning the ball from end to end. That kind of work rate will hold him in good stead as a multi-dimensional prospect who can hurt the opposition in different ways. Dovaston added another string to his bow this year, further developing his midfield craft and proving a stoppage threat around the ground. He still has a relatively light frame and stands at 178cm, which could limit his potential to play on the ball at the senior level, although his agility and tenacity make him hard to get a hold of when in possession. He has the evasiveness of classic small forwards. But what he lacks in mass, he makes up for in sheer doggedness. Dovaston largely makes up for his diminutiveness through an unrelenting willingness to impose himself on games. He has a never-say-die attitude and a solid endurance base that means he is dangerous to the final bell, as evidenced by his match-winning final-minute goal against the Young Guns for Vic Metro. Despite presenting as a viable option on the ball, there will be some expectation that he spends most of his time forward where his scoreboard impact is undeniable. In the 2025 season of the Coates Talent League, Dovaston was the second most prolific goal scorer for the year - an impressive feat for a small forward. It could have been an even more spectacular haul; Dovaston has some work to do on his finishing in front of goal, but more importantly, he finds a way to rack up scores.
Hes much more dynamic a mover at stoppages than Sparrow With that said, he's not a big accumulator judging by the stat lines he has in his footage online and his kicking looks a bit dodgy which is concerning
