“Put his mind to it”: The factors behind Rising Star’s breakout game

Greater poise and skill execution were behind Leo Lombard's breakout Opening Round performance according to Gold Coast VFL coach and head of development Tate Kaesler.

Kaesler has seen the second-year player grow since 2023, with Lombard playing nine games of VFL across the two seasons prior to being drafted, before nine VFL games and four AFL outings last year.

He had 15 disposals, seven score involvements and two goals in the Suns' shellacking of Geelong on Friday night, earning him a Rising Star nomination. 

“He went away and got himself super fit and worked on his skill execution,” Kaesler told Zero Hanger.

“He's one of those kids who was hard at it and fast when he played younger and at the next level, he has to have that little bit more composure and that's what he's really gone after in pre-season, and I think his ball-use has really improved. 

“He's making really good decisions, and we always know he's going to be a player who applies fierce pressure and goes after the opposition, but the biggest growth I think I've seen in him is his skill execution and composure under pressure.”

Drafted at pick 9 in the 2024 AFL Draft as an explosive athlete with tenacious physicality, he was forced to toil in the VFL for most of last year, not earning a debut until Round 12, and getting dropped after three games.

Growing up as a midfielder, he is set to play a role as a pressure forward in 2026, with his application in learning his new role helping him secure a spot in Damien Hardwick's best 23.

"I was very disappointed in last season," Lombard told media on Monday.

"To be honest, I didn't play my best footy at all.

"I had a conversation with 'Dimma' (coach Damien Hardwick) in the off-season and he just put a lot of confidence in me and had so much belief in me and what I could do.

"Hearing that and hearing what he had to say really built so much confidence in myself and I'm glad I got to showcase it on Friday night."

Underlining his commitment in the off-season, Lombard won the Suns' first two-kilometre time trial of the year which highlighted a pre-season where he says he didn't miss a session, many around the club indicating he's been a standout.

With Sam Flanders, Malcolm Rosas and Connor Budarick departing the Suns in the off-season, Lombard seized the vacancies in the forward line.

"If you told me a year ago I was playing small forward, I wouldn't have had a clue what I'm doing," he said.

"I've sat in so many meetings with Sam Flanders and Ben Ainsworth: they've taught me a lot as well.

"Sitting there with Touk (Miller) and just getting that role clarity with (forwards coach) Brad Miller, he's really put that belief in me as well."

Lombard's rise to new heights in his second season is a nod to the Suns' development-focused VFL program.

Arguably, Kaesler has been behind the wheel of the VFL equivalent of a Rolls Royce in recent years, given the Suns' AFL squad is brimming with depth and the state league side is often filled out with draft prospects in the Suns Academy.

Lombard arrived at the Suns with a greater understanding than most draftees of AFL demands given the alignment of the Suns Academy and AFL program, but needed to round off his game and add polish to break into a strong lineup, which he was well supported in doing in 2025.

“It is quite a strong squad but our big focus at VFL level is on development and contributing on all three phases of the game and delivering on what is required to play at AFL level,” Kaesler said.

“Sometimes that is the challenging part: you see them playing well at VFL level, (but) the gap is becoming bigger and bigger (between VFL and AFL) every year so our standards we've got to set for these guys becomes really important. 

“We've got to keep understanding we've got great talent in the AFL team as well so managing expectation as well is really important especially for younger guys who may have been stars at under-18s but at an AFL environment, you've got to get past Matt Rowell, Touk Miller, Noah Anderson, Christian Petracca so we have to keep developing them at a level required.

“Leo Lombard is a good example: he played a fair bit of VFL last year, was in and out of the AFL side but really put his mind to it this off-season and really trained well, got fit, understood his role more now and is playing outstanding footy at AFL level.

“Sometimes it takes 12-18 months for these younger guys to understand what it takes to play at AFL level and we're happy to take that time with them; they're all in a rush but we want to make sure they're ready to play before we push them up.”