'He ticks all our boxes': Colbo lands Lachlan Wright with new role in mind

Sandhurst premiership player and dual Bendigo interleague star Lachlan Wright is joining Colbinabbin in the HDFNL. Pictures by Enzo Tomasiello and Colbinabbin FNC

COLBINABBIN coach Linton Jacobs has hinted at a midfield role for the club's latest boom recruit Lachlan Wright.

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Wright has been best known throughout his four seasons with Sandhurst as a key position player at either end of the ground, but looks set for a change at the Grasshoppers as they - along with Heathcote - continue to set the pace in the Heathcote District league's recruiting campaign.

Wright was a star of Sandhurst's 2024 Bendigo league premiership, winning the AFL Victoria Medal for his game in the back half in the Dragons' grand final win over Gisborne.

Wright played in four grand finals in four seasons for the Dragons as well as representing Bendigo in interleague in 2025 and 2026, with his addition to Colbinabbin another huge boost to the Grasshoppers and their aspirations to win their first flag since 2008.

"It's a big signing for us and we're really excited to get Lachie in having spoken to him over the past couple of years," Jacobs said.

"He's a ripping person firstly, which fits in well with us at Colbo, and his footy has been outstanding at Sandhurst over the past four years.

"To get someone as talented as him who can basically play any position and has played in a lot of big finals and played well in big games is something we've been looking for as well.

"He ticks all our boxes and we're super excited to get him in a green and gold jumper."

Lachlan Wright in action for Sandhurst in the Dragons' 2024 premiership season. Pictrue by Enzo Tomasiello

While he has been renowned as one of the intercept kings of the BFNL since making the switch to defence during the 2024 season, Wright was also Sandhurst's leading goalkicker in his first season at the club in 2023 with 45.

Wright averaged 15 disposals and seven marks a game this year for the Dragons.

He had five games where he took at least 10 marks headed by 14 against eventual premier Gisborne in round eight.

Wright has a connection to Colbinabbin through assistant coach Chris Guinane from their previous days together involved with the Bendigo Pioneers and he also works with Grasshoppers player Charlie Ryan at Healthy Mates.

He joins his 2024 Sandhurst premiership teammate Isaac Carracher at Colbinabbin. Carracher has played for the Grasshoppers the past two seasons.

"Lachie has played some of his best footy across half-back over the past couple of years, but we see there's some real scope for his game to grow through the middle of the ground as a hybrid tall midfielder," Jacobs said.

Lachlan Wright playing for Bendigo against the Ovens and Murray in May this year. Picture by Enzo Tomasiello

"He kicks the ball well, so we think we can use his strengths through the middle of the ground.

"We certainly know he can play back and I know there will be times when he goes into defence, but we think he can add another dimension to our midfield group.

"And we know he can go forward as well, so he certainly gives us some great flexibility."

Wright becomes the seventh confirmed departure of this year's Bendigo inter-league team from the competition, along with Sandhurst's Caleb Connick (Birchip-Watchem), South Bendigo's Jack Fallon (Noosa), Castlemaine's Michael Hartley (Newbridge), plus the Gisborne trio of Dylan Johnstone, James Gray and Zach Vescovi with the Bulldogs having joined Ballarat.

Wright joins Sam O'Shannessy from Eaglehawk, Jared Crosbie from Kilmore, former Lancefield captain Riley O'Meara, twins Hugh and Cooper Hamilton returning to their home club and their 2018 best and fairest winner Mitch Bright from Rochester as Colbinabbin recruits.

The Grasshoppers have been beaten by North Bendigo in the past two preliminary finals.

Meanwhile, off the field the Grasshoppers presidency role is being handed over from Tim Hill to Hugh Barlow.

On the netball court the Grasshoppers have completed back-to-back undefeated A grade premiership seasons, but have lost one of their key pillars in star goal attack Ella Kerlin - the winner of the 2025 Esther Cheatley Medal - making the move to Sandhurst in the Bendigo league.

As well as winning the Esther Cheatley Medal in 2025 Kerlin was also runner-up this year by one vote to teammate Olivia McEvoy.

Kerlin joins a Sandhurst side that was beaten by Kangaroo Flat in this year's grand final

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