The SANFL star who could “easily” be a very good AFL player

West Adelaide head coach Nathan Bassett firmly believes that Glenelg’s Lachie Hosie could “easily” play at AFL level again.

The Bays star has dominated the SANFL for many years, kicking more than 300 goals in well over 100 appearances in black and yellow, including two of the past three Ken Farmer Medals (SANFL's Coleman).

Hosie played five games for North Melbourne in 2020 having been picked up in the 2019 Mid-Season Rookie Draft but was soon back at Glenelg, failing to win the Kangaroos over.

Former Crows defender Bassett, who has coached at Norwood as well as assistant roles at Essendon, Port Adelaide and Melbourne, has seen enough in his travels to know that 29-year-old Hosie could still cut it on the big stage.

“Lachie Hosie is the best player in the comp,” Bassett said on SEN SA Breakfast.

“I say that with respect to (Norwood’s) Aaron Francis who is playing at a level of the best player in the comp.

“Hosie’s movement, his craft as a forward is outstanding. He can play deeper forward roles, he can play high forward.

“He was going to centre bounces at the start of the year. There wasn’t too much midfield craft, but now he is a good midfielder as well.

“He’s a genuinely good player, the best player in the comp. He could play AFL easily, and not just play, he would be very good at AFL level.”

Bassett compared Hosie to a talented current Crow, saying he’d have more of an impact as it stands.

“I really like Josh Rachele, but Lachie Hosie looks like a better player at the moment,” he added.

“That’s nothing against Josh Rachele. I was doing oppo (analysis) on Tuesday and I’m watching Hosie’s movement behind the ball, as well as when he goes on the ball, and it’s at a really high level.

“He’s a highly talented footballer, he’s kicking four goals a game in a competition where it’s very difficult to do that. Then if he goes into midfield he has three clearances.

“He’s very, very good.”

Despite his superb SANFL form, Bassett admits that maybe everything has clicked a bit too late for Hosie who will turn 30 in February next year.

“He’s one of those players that makes a difference. His finishing around goal is at times outrageous,” Basset said further.

“Maybe the knock on him has been that he’s not a great runner, that he’s played deep forward, and that he’s undersized and not tall enough to play there.

“Now when you look at his package - he can play as a deep, as a high forward, he can go into the midfield and win clearance - there’s more there now.

“Sometimes it just comes to players too late.”

Hosie has kicked 45 goals in 12 SANFL games so far this season at an average of 3.75 per game. He's also averaging just under 15 disposals, six marks, four inside 50s and two clearances per game.

Image from Glenelg FC.