I think the build-up begins about six months before the draft itself. About halfway through the year, you get a bit of an indication as to where you sit in the scheme of things and if you’re a chance to be drafted or not. That stems from the amount of clubs interested in having a chat to or interviewing you, and obviously if you get a letter inviting you to the Draft Combine.
It was such an exciting year especially being in my first year in the Under-18 system, playing for the Geelong Falcons. It was a lot to take in.
In my draft year, the rules were different and you could be drafted at age 17. There were a few players in my year, who were a year younger than most of the players being drafted, including myself and Trent Cotchin.
I’d said throughout the year that I was going to finish school the next year even if I was drafted. I made it clear that doing Year 12 was the most important thing for me. I wanted to have that behind me when I started my AFL career. Most clubs took that well and Adelaide certainly didn’t have an issue with it.
I think I spoke to about 12 clubs in total. Most were pretty positive and easy going. I didn’t get too many grillings. The Port Adelaide interview with (former coach) Mark Williams was the scariest one at the Combine. His interviews are the stuff of legend. Any time you speak to a player who was coming into the system when Mark Williams was coach, they’ll tell you how petrified they were of what the interview with ‘Choco’ would be like.
Overall, I’d met with Adelaide three times, which was more than any other club by far. From that, I gauged that they were pretty interested in taking me. The lead-up was a bit bizarre actually. About three weeks before the draft, Matty and Hamish Ogilvie came to interview me in Moggs Creek. For anyone who knows (former Crows National Recruiting Manager) Matty Rendell, he’s incredibly blunt and says it how it is. He just casually said, ‘If you’re there at pick 10, we’ll take you’.
I didn’t know if he was serious. I mean, who says that?! The recruiters usually keep their cards very close to their chest, so it was very odd. I didn’t know whether to believe him or not because you hear stories about recruiters saying different things, but Matty said, ‘Nope, if you’re there, we’ll take you’. It blew me away.
I’d finished Year 11 and my exams, so I was sitting around waiting for draft day to roll around. I was invited to the Draft, which was held at Etihad Stadium. I went along with my parents John and Janette and also my sister, Bethany.
Matthew Kreuzer was always going to go to Carlton at No.1. There was a bit of conjecture over who would go at No.2, whether it would be Cotchin or Cale Morton. Chris Masten always seemed to be going to West Coast at No.3. It’s funny how some names seem to get locked in at different picks.
Pick 10 came and the Crows read out my name and my number. You never expect it, but at the same time it wasn’t a massive surprise, if that makes sense. Mum, Dad and Bethany were all really excited. They’d sort of got their heads around the fact that Adelaide was probably going to be the destination from all the chats we’d had with Matty and Hamish. It’s still a shock to the system for your parents though.
It was surreal. I don’t think you understand it until you’re a month in and training with your teammates. At the time, you’re thinking ‘this is the most important thing. All I need to do is get drafted’. It’s what your whole year has been about, trying to get your foot in the door.
As soon as your name is read out, you’re whisked off. I remember vividly after the draft had wrapped up. Our CEO at the time, Steven Trigg, said to me, ‘Are you sure you want to stay at home and finish school?’ I said, ‘Yes, Steven. I am’. He said, ‘Okay then, no worries’.
There were media interviews to do pretty quickly and I think I was on the microphone with ‘Rowey’ and ‘Cornesy’ about half-an-hour later. Chris Knights was there with the Crows at the time. I didn’t have a Crows polo at the time, so I took his and he had to wear mine. If anyone has seen Chris, he’s got a fair rig, so it looked like the most compressed t-shirt every worn.
I went back home that night, packed my bags and then headed to the airport on Sunday. All the Victorian-based draftees met at Tullamarine Airport. There was Andy Otten, Myke Cook, Tony Armstrong, Aaron Kite and myself. I’d played on Andy and Myke during the year, and against Tony when he played for the Calder Cannons. I didn’t know them super well, but you’re living in each other’s pockets, so you get to know each other pretty quickly. The Club had organised me for to stay with Scott Stevens, and he was there at Adelaide Airport to pick me up, which was nice.
When I was first drafted, Tyson Edwards, Simon Goodwin and Andrew McLeod called me. I was thinking, ‘what are these guys calling me for?!’ It was unbelievable and made me feel so much more welcome. I think it’s important for us as a club that the first impression we give our recruits is a positive one and that they feel welcome. It’s something we pride ourselves on and I’m sure other clubs do too.
My first training session with the Crows was a memorable one. I was on the bike with Charlie Walsh and I think I lasted 20 minutes before I passed out. Mind you it was 40 degrees! I’d come from Moggs Creek where it was probably 20 degrees. I didn’t know what I was getting myself in for! People that know me, know that I’m hell for leather. I gave it absolutely everything from the start and then didn’t have much left about halfway through the session! It’s funny looking back now.
