Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
How Port Adelaide SSP recruit had no idea of AFL interest before pre-season invite
Lachlan Geleit • February 20th, 2025 3:06 pm
Port Adelaide SSP recruit Josh Lai could never have imagined he’d be on an AFL list this year if his 2024 season was anything to go off.
While the 19-year-old has plenty of talent, he spent last season playing with Cheltenham in Melbourne’s Southern Football League and had never played a VFL or Talent League game across his footy journey.
Plying his trade for the Rosellas, Lai caught the eye for his athleticism, decision-making and goal kicking with Power recruiters originally sighting him when they happened to be in the crowd for a Cheltenham v Bentleigh clash on Anzac Day.
After they set their sights on the youngster, the Power showed they were seriously interested, coming back to Melbourne several times throughout the year to assess Lai’s talent.
While Cheltenham’s President Adam King learned of Port Adelaide’s interest, he decided to keep it hush from the youngster himself who went about his footy including winning best afield in the 2024 SFNL Division 1 Grand Final.
Once that call from the Power came to Lai in November to train for a list spot, it certainly came as a surprise to the teenager.
“I had no idea until they told me in November,” Lai told SEN SA The Run Home.
“But pretty much, they saw me on that Anzac Day game, and then they kept coming back to watch me play.
“I had no idea this was all going on. I pretty much found out that they were doing that when they gave me a call last minute to come over to Adelaide to train on over the summer.
“Obviously it’s a bit stressful (not knowing you have a list spot), but for me, it was a no-brainer to come to Adelaide because of the opportunity which I couldn’t let pass.
“I had no issue if it meant I had to go interstate to get here.”
Lai arrives at Alberton as a genuine wingman, and he hopes he can keep using his leg speed at the next level in a similar role.
“I played all of my junior footy just at school level, juniors with the Hampton Rovers and then Cheltenham seniors on a wing,” Lai said.
“Growing up I was more of a midfielder and half-back as a junior but once I moved to Cheltenham I began playing on a wing.
“I was able to use my leg speed a bit more there, which was nice.”
Having settled in thanks to fellow bayside boy Miles Bergman taking him under his wing, Lai hopes to become entrenched with the history of Port Adelaide in his first season on the list.
Here’s hoping his upward trajectory continues to a remarkable AFL debut sometime during the 2025 season.
“When I first came over I first moved in with Miles Bergman, he’s been great and he’s looked after me in Adelaide,” Lai said.
“I don't know a lot about Port Adelaide, but I know it’s got a rich history,
“I’m sure I’ll learn more the longer I spend here.”
Image: portadelaidefc.com.au
Listen to the full chat with Lai below.
