ON WEDNESDAY, Elise O’Dea not only achieved her dream, but she did it with the cherry on top.

Not only was she claimed in the AFL Women’s Draft, she was drafted to the team she has supported with passion all her life: Melbourne.

“I’m really rapt to be on a list now and just play some footy,” she told Melbourne TV.

“I’m a massive Melbourne supporter and so is the whole family. I’m rapt that I don’t have to throw out half of my wardrobe and I can play in the colours I love.

“I’m sending little high fives back to that eight-year-old inside of me who used to pretend I was a footballer out in the backyard. I pretended I was Brad Green, Aaron Davey or David Neitz growing up as a kid … I’m just so happy.”

Originally from Canberra, the skillful, hard-at-it midfielder knew her footy journey would take her to Victoria.   

“I knew growing up that I wanted to play footy in Victoria and that was the place to play football and if I wanted to take it to the next level, I had to come here,” she said.

“I left at the end of 2012 and got here at the start of 2013 and I just haven’t looked back ever since.

“I’ve played with the Falcs for the past four years and played in those exhibition matches and here we are now.”

O’Dea was optimistic about being selected in the draft, but wasn’t sure where.

“I was hoping that because I had been invited that I would get on a list,” she said.

“I had no idea which list and I nominated for the Vic draft, so I hoped I’d get on a Vic list.

“I had no idea Melbourne would pick me, so I’m just rapt.”

O’Dea said she couldn’t wait to keep playing with Daisy Pearce, Mel Hickey and Karen Paxman – her teammates at the Darebin Falcons and who had already been snapped up by Melbourne.

“I love playing with Daisy, Hicks and Paxy,” she said.

“Hopefully we’ll just play some great team football and we’ll all gel and have some success along the way.

“The aim is to put on a good product and play some good football and show people what we’re made of and show how good the Melbourne Football Club is.”