MIDFIELDER/half-back Jayden Hunt says he was in “complete astonishment” when he heard Melbourne had called his out name with its final selection at No.57 in the NAB AFL Draft on Thursday night.
Externally, Hunt was somewhat of a smoky selection, but the Demons had kept a close eye on him throughout 2013. In the wash-up, the 18-year-old from Brighton Grammar was rapt to join his good school friend Christian Salem, who was selected earlier in the draft at No.9, at Melbourne.
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Draft recap with Paul Roos
Draft recap with Jason Taylor
Pick 9: Christian Salem interview | Highlights
Pick 40: Jay Kennedy-Harris highlights
Pick 57: Jayden Hunt highlights
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“It was a dream come true. I’m so excited to join the Demons, because I’m good mates with Christian,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“There are also some Brighton Grammar boys at Melbourne with Chris Dawes and Jack Watts, so I’m so excited to be joining the team, especially with Roosy and the other coaches coming in. It’s an exciting time for the club.
“My first phone call was from Jack Grimes and then from Paul Roos.”
Hunt, who also played with Old Brighton in the latter part of the year, said he wasn’t too sure what his chances were of being drafted. But he confirmed a few clubs had shown interest in him late in the year.
“If you asked me a few months ago, I would’ve said next to nothing, but since then it has gone crazy and I’m so excited,” he said.
“This year has been a complete turnaround in my footy season.
“I had a massive growth spurt last year and I came back this year and I could run 20 per cent faster and kick 20 per cent further. It’s all gone from there.”
Hunt said his growth spurt helped take his game to another level this year, after he was “well under six foot” in 2012. He estimated that he had grown at least five to six centremetres in 2013.
“I had some injuries due to my growth spurt. Now I’m over six foot one [inches], so I’m 186cm at the moment,” he said.
“I was very small, so I wasn’t playing a higher standard, but ever since I had this growth spurt I can do things a little bit better.
“That’s helped me get confidence back in my game.”
Hunt’s connection with Watts also stems via their mothers, who play golf together. But Hunt can also vividly remember when Watts was the No.1 draft pick in 2008.
“I had a bit to do with him (Watts) when he was still at school and I was in year eight,” he said.
“The day he got drafted, there was a photo of him on the front cover of the Herald Sun that I was in.”
Expect Watts to return the favour in the coming period.
