AFL football has been in the Lockett family for generations.

It all started with our grandfather, Howard Lockett — the original Plugger. A Hall of Fame country footballer from Ballarat, he built a strong reputation and legacy that laid the foundations for our family’s love of the game.

Then came our uncle, Tony Lockett, who played 281 games across St Kilda and the Sydney Swans. He finished his career with 1,360 goals — the most ever kicked in VFL/AFL history.

But the biggest influences on our football journey have always been Mum and Dad.

Mum, Lana, also grew up in Victoria. She has always had a passion for sport and has been our number one supporter from day one.

Dad played footy too, although he probably loved the social side of the game even more. He still claims he deserves a statue for his Under 12 grand final performance, but it was the mateship, banter and lifelong friendships that kept him coming back—something that’s definitely been instilled in us.

Together, Mum and Dad have watched every one of our games, made endless trips to training, and supported us through every step of our football journey. They’ve both spent countless hours helping us improve our skills, deepen our understanding of the game, and most importantly, making it fun. That’s what shaped our love for footy.

While our family’s roots began in Victoria, Queensland is where our own football journey started, right here on the Gold Coast with the Broadbeach Cats before moving to the Southport Sharks.

This season, Taj is playing senior football for the Broadbeach Cats in the QAFL competition, while Jye heads back to Ballarat each weekend to pull on the jumper for the North Ballarat Roosters.

We’re proud to be part of The Sauce Premium Basics family. Family has always been at the heart of everything we do, so representing a brand that shares those same values is something we’re incredibly grateful for. Whether we’re training, travelling or just living day to day, it’s great to have The Sauce Premium Basics in our corner on the journey.