Maryborough backs ‘Cobra’ Kai in AFL grand final

TAGGED Cobra or King, Maryborough-raised Kai Lohmann is likely to draw plenty of support from his old hometown as the Brisbane Lions forward contests Saturday’s AFL grand final against Sydney Swans.

Lohmann and his Lions’ team-mates will be aiming to mark the club’s first premiership victory since the third leg of a hat-trick was achieved in 2003.

The Lions have contested two grand finals since then, but were beaten by Port Adelaide in 2004, and Collingwood last September.

Lohmann was on the sidelines for last season’s grand final.

This Saturday the 21-year-old will be in the thick of the action on the MCG as he marks game 35 in the maroon, blue and gold.

Lohmann’s spectacular leap which he showed in Saturday night’s preliminary final against Geelong is just one of the many strengths he has brought to the Lions attack.

It’s not just about K, M, G – kicks, marks, goals – but also the crucial one per centers of spoils, smothers, blocks, tackles the small forward racks up.

Lohmann’s footy journey began with Maryborough Junior Football Club’s under-12s in 2012.

He had a five-year stint with the Magpies, but also represented the Bendigo JFL, and played some matches for Natte Bealiba under-14s ½, and Maryborough Rovers, under-14 ½.

A major step in his footy career was the move to Ballarat in 2017 and to play for Lake Wendouree.

Lohmann was also studying at St Patrick’s College in Ballarat.

His first year in Ballarat included lining up against Bendigo Junior Football League in the Goldfields Challenge.

More matches for Lake Wendouree were played in 2018 and he also represented Western Bulldogs in the V/Line under-15 Cup.

A high of the ’19 season was representing Victoria Country in the NAB national under-16 championships.

Although he played just nine matches for Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the Coates Talent League of ’21, Lohmann’s play caught the attention of the Lions’ recruiting team.

He was taken at pick 20 in the 2021 AFL national draft and played his first AFL match in round five of the ’22 season against Collingwood at the Gabba.

Lohmann was the NAB Rising Star nominee in round 10 of this season.

The speedy forward is not the first player from Maryborough to have chased premiership success.

In the late 60s and early 70s it was John Nicholls who dominated in the ruck or resting in a forward pocket for Carlton.

The legendary ‘Big Nick’ is a triple premiership player with the Blues – ’68, ’70 and ’72.

He was captain-coach as Carlton beat Richmond in the ’72 grand final.

The Blues scored 28.9 (177) to 22.18 (150) in the highest-scoring grand final in VFL/AFL grand final history.

Nicholls was the first to reach 300 games in Carlton’s history, is in the AFL Team of the Century, and inaugural Legend when the AFL Hall of Fame was unveiled in 1996.

A year ago it was Castlemaine which followed the play of Jack Ginnivan in Collingwood’s charge to premiership glory.

This year it’s many across Maryborough and district, and nearby Ballarat that want to see Kai Lohmann join the premiership winner’s club.

One premiership medal is already  in the Lohmann clan this season as Kai’s older brother, Jacob played for Morningside against Redland in the Queensland AFL decider.

Jacob had played for Maryborough seniors as recently as last season when not playing in the VFL with Sandringham Zebras