Myles Poholke had a dream he would be drafted by the Crows, but he never imagined good mate Jordan Gallucci would be pulling on the blue, red and gold alongside him.
Gallucci and Poholke were selected with Adelaide’s first two picks in Friday night’s National Draft.
The Victorian pair met when Poholke received a late call-up to the AIS-AFL Academy squad.
“We’ve probably only known each other 12-18 months now,” Poholke said.
“When I was added to the Academy squad, Jordy, Jack Scrimshaw and that little friendship group took me in and we’ve been really tight since.
“We spent a lot of time together through the Academy and a few other camps here and there.”
Gallucci, who was at the draft in Sydney with his family, was taken by the Crows at pick No.15. About 45 minutes later, Poholke’s house erupted when his name was called with pick No.44.
“I sent Jordy a text straight away, and I said ‘This is unreal!’
"He gave me a call and emotions were flying,” Poholke said.
“We were just stoked to be together on the trip of a lifetime.”
Both players were hoping to be picked up by the Crows.
Adelaide recruiters had tracked Gallucci closely since Under-16s and developed a good relationship with his family, including dad Mario, mum Lisa and sister Lily.
“I was really hoping for Adelaide — the whole family was,” Gallucci said
“We had Adelaide (recruiters) over for a fair bit over the season and we loved them from the start.
“I was really excited about the prospect of moving there.”
Poholke also had his fingers crossed the Crows would call his name on Friday night.
“I had a dream Thursday night that I’d been drafted to the Crows,” he said.
“I had a little hunch all day (Friday) and I was absolutely over the moon when the Crows picked me."
Gallucci went to dinner with Crows staff and draftee Ben Davis after the draft, and then celebrated with family and friends the next day.
“I had about 90 people over at my house at around five o’clock Saturday arvo,” he said.
“It was unreal. We had a really good time and the whole house was kitted out in Crows gear!”
Poholke, who watched the draft at home in Rye on Friday night, had a family dinner and caught up with his mates, who were preparing to head to Bali while he packed for Adelaide.
Poholke, Gallucci and fellow Victorian Matt Signorello left Melbourne accompanied by Crows recruiting staff on Sunday afternoon.
Reigning Club Champion and All Australian vice-captain Rory Sloane, who hails from the same junior club (Eastern Ranges) as Gallucci, arranged to meet the trio before boarding a later flight to Adelaide.
Poholke said having a familiar face in Gallucci would make the transition to life in a new city easier.
“It was probably the biggest worry, to be honest, settling into the Club and getting to know everyone,” he said.
“To have someone that I not only knew but am really close with is going to make it a whole lot easier and enjoyable to start with. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Jordan Gallucci and Myles Poholke with their AIS-AFL Academy jumpers
