What Will He Bring: Lachlan Carmichael

For the second consecutive season, the Western Bulldogs were forced to bide their time on Night One of the National Draft, with a combination of factors both within and outside their control playing a role.

Initially armed with Pick 12 at the end of the season, the Bulldogs twice slid down the order via trades with other clubs, before a glut of matched bids pushed the Bulldogs back further. By the time the Bulldogs were eventually on the clock, it was Pick 21.

It had been reported in the lead-up to the draft that the Bulldogs were keen on adding to their half-back stocks with their first pick in the draft, and while most of the best back-flankers in the draft crop were gone by the time the Bulldogs' pick came around, Sydney academy prospect Lachlan Carmichael remained on the board. Despite the Swans having first refusal on adding Carmichael to their own ranks, they ultimately declined the opportunity to match the Bulldogs' bid, allowing the Bulldogs to swoop in.

THE PLAYER:

Lachlan Carmichael

Height: 184cm

Position: Half Back

Club: Sydney Swans Academy/Allies

WHAT THEY SAID:

“Through our draft meeting we were able to go a bit deeper on Lachy. The clean hands, the poise, the agility through traffic - he’s an elite ground ball intercept player.

“A lot of what he does shows up off ball and something that he said to us in an interview was that he likes to play footy in a way that makes his teammates better - that really stuck with us.

“When you go and watch the behind-the-goals vision, a lot of his speed and a lot of his extraordinary efforts come in that defensive mode and trying to make sure that he’s giving his team the right chance to do what they can do and his teammates to shine.” - Player Acquisition and Strategy Manager Michael Regan

“Been a dominant player for the last three years. Incredible ability to read the play and intercept. He’s a great user of the ball. I’ve seen him one-on-one stand on his opponent’s shoulders as well, so he’s got natural talent and flair.” – AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan

2025 SEASON:

Having starred for the Swans Academy in the previous two campaigns, Carmichael continued to star in 2025, regardless of which team he represented, rounding out one of the most well-credentialed junior careers in this year’s crop.

Having won both the MVP and All-Australian honours while playing for the Swans in the 2023 U16 National Championships, Carmichael was picked to represent the Academy in the Talent League in the following two seasons, as well as representing the Allies in the U18 Championships both as a bottom-ager and a top-ager.

But he improved even further in 2025. Averaging 27 disposals and seven marks in the three games that he played for the Swans Academy, he more than merited a second consecutive selection for the Allies, where he established himself as one of the premier half-back flankers in the draft pool.

Despite the Allies winning just one of their four games in this year’s Championships, the win-loss record was through no fault of Carmichael, who averaged 24.8 disposals, five marks and 4.8 rebounds, as well as being named among the Allies’ best in each of the four games, assuming the role of designated kick-in taker, as well as impressing with both his ability to consistently hit varying targets by foot, as well as reading the play well enough to intercept. His fine form was rewarded at season’s end with both All-Australian selection, while also taking out the Allies’ MVP award.

He also enjoyed a taste of competitive football at a senior level in 2025, breaking through to play one VFL game for Sydney late in the season, where he recorded 15 disposals, six tackles and four marks.

WHAT WILL HE BRING:

Carmichael may have gone slightly earlier in the draft than what most people had predicted, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that he is one of the most balanced back-flankers in this year’s draft crop.

The flashy part of his game is evident in the numbers – averaging 24.8 disposals at 81.8% efficiency is irrefutable proof that Carmichael has no issue finding the football in the back half, and consistently hits the target. The fact that he was tasked with kick-in duties for the Allies in the U18 Championship further highlights both his abilities by foot and the trust that his teammates have in him. But this isn’t a case of a player always looking to pick the safe, easy option; Carmichael is a positive rebounder, displaying the confidence to charge out of defence with ball in hand, and works hard to chain the ball up the ground, which will suit the Bulldogs’ fast style of ball movement.

Another strength of his is his ability to win the ball back. Despite standing at just 184cm, Carmichael is more than competent in the air and is a very good overhead mark for his size. AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan made a strong point on Draft Night about Carmichael’s ability to read the play, and it’s an important trait for defenders in the modern game. Carmichael is regularly able to get himself in the right position to win the ball back for his team, and uses that ability to quickly turn defence into attack.

But for all of the neat tricks that look good on Carmichael’s highlights reel, it doesn’t come at the expense of solid, old-fashioned defending. Carmichael isn’t a player who picks and chooses when to compete in the air to intercept; he will put his body on the line regardless of the situation. He doesn’t mind laying a tackle, either, having averaged nearly four a game across both the Talent League and the U18 Championships this year.

One misconception about Carmichael’s game is that he isn’t a very good one-on-one defender. This isn’t the case. While not a naturally contested-style player, Carmichael’s raw defending has improved significantly throughout his junior year, and with further development can become someone who can be deployed as a lockdown defender who can also rebound once the ball is won back.

If there is one obvious improvement that can be made in his game right now, it would be his ability to win more contested football. Carmichael was deployed in the midfield at times this season and struggled in the trenches, averaging just 4.8 contested possessions in the four games he played for the Allies. That ability may improve over time, but given that he is primarily a back-flanker, it’s not a critical knock on his game.

The Bulldogs have worked hard over the past 12 months to bring in more rebounding defenders into the club, with Lachie Jaques, Michael Sellwood and Zac Walker all recent examples of this, all trying to break into a backline that already has Bailey Dale, Lachie Bramble running through it. But Carmichael is one who could very well be breaking through for a debut at some point in 2026. The balance in his game between offence and defence makes him one of the most well-rounded back flankers in this year’s crop, and his elite kicking skills and positive mindset would slot in very nicely in Luke Beveridge’s defensive setup.