Lachlan Filipovic Biography

Rookie ruckman Lachie Filipovic signs a one-year deal with Melbourne to remain at the club in 2018.

Filipovic remains a project, given he has played the sport for barely three years after focusing on soccer and basketball before that. Filipovic's father Nick played soccer for NSL club Melbourne Knights.

He played only five games in the VFL Development League in 2017, suffering a season-ending hip injury in the last of them.

A glowing endorsement from All Australian ruckman Max Gawn played a part in Melbourne selecting young big man Lachlan Filipovic in the 2016 AFL Rookie Draft.

Gawn worked closely with Filipovic, pick No.8 overall, in his role as a part-time ruck coach at the Sandringham Dragons during the 2016 season.

Although recruiting manager Jason Taylor was all but set on which player he wanted to recruit with the club's first pick, Gawn's character assessment helped confirm Filipovic's selection.

"There were a couple of times that I'd come in to the club on a Monday morning and ask ‘Jase’ whether he had seen him (Filipovic) play on the weekend," Gawn said.

"I was always in his ear about this Lachie Filipovic fella."

Melbourne select Lachlan Filipovic with pick No.8 in the 2016 Rookie Draft.