HORSHAM’S Jake Lloyd will get a second chance at AFL premiership glory when he pulls on his jumper for Sydney in Saturday’s grand final.
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Stuart Farr coached a younger Lloyd to plenty of success with the senior Horsham Demons side before he was drafted.
Lloyd played in his first of four consecutive senior premierships with the side eight days before his sixteenth birthday in 2009.
It was his last in 2012 that Farr said he remembered the impact Lloyd had coming into the team after North Ballarat finished its TAC cup campaign.
“He was probably the difference early,” he said.
“He was clearly the best on ground in my opinion running off that half back line through the early stage of the game before the team kicked into gear.
“It was amazing how our fortunes were resting on the shoulders of an 19-year-old.”
It was no surprise to Farr that Lloyd has succeeded at the highest level.
“He’s the most coachable player I’ve ever had,” he said.
“Anything you would ask he would do without question. His training and work ethic and all those things you don’t see behind the scenes.”
After debuting in round five of 2014 Lloyd went on to play 21 games in the season, including the last Saturday in September against Hawthorn.
That day did not end well for the Swan as the side went down 21.11 (137) to 11.8 (74).
Farr said he wasn’t surprised Lloyd managed to step on in his debut season.
“Every time he steps on he just grasps the chance,” he said.
“The stakes go up and so does his level of play.
“He’s not full of himself and he comes from a very good family who have ensured he has a good, calm head on his shoulders.”
After his side defeated Geelong in the preliminary final last week Jake gets another chance at winning a premiership medal.
The first time around Lloyd was playing in only his 21st game with the team, now two seasons later he has much more senior experience under his belt as he tries to fight for a premiership.
With his sibling Paige, Billy and Matty already having played in winning grand finals in 2016 an AFL premiership for Jake would cap off a memorable sporting year for the family.