DRAFT day changes the lives of many young footballers around the country, and some of Melbourne’s newest recruits learned their fate in less than usual ways.
While some draft prospects were glued to their television screens awaiting the moment where their dreams were conquered, 22-year-old Marty Hore decided not to tune into the broadcast at all.
In fact, Hore was out on his parent’s farm while the action was taking place at Marvel Stadium on Friday afternoon.
“I was actually out working on the farm – I was on the excavator,” Hore told Melbourne Media.
“Then dad rang me up and said, ‘You better come inside, Melbourne’s just picked you’. So I raced inside.”
The intercept defender has won the last two best and fairest awards for Collingwood’s VFL side and was rated a strong chance to land on an AFL list prior to the draft.
But Hore decided he’d be more comfortable distracting himself while the lengthy proceedings took place.
“I was hoping for the best, but I didn’t really want to watch it,” he said.
“I wasn’t too nervous, but I thought I’d try to stay really relaxed and if something happened
“And luckily enough they did.”
While Hore elected not to view the draft, South Australian youngster Tom Sparrow was desperate to find out where he would be playing his football in 2019.
But for some, Foxtel isn’t easily accessible.
“We had to resort to the pub because we didn’t have Foxtel,” Sparrow told Melbourne Media.
“So we were all just sitting in the pub, just the local one, just watching Fox Footy on TV there.
“Then my name got called out.”
Sparrow, surrounded by loved ones, was the first draftee selected by the Demons and couldn’t contain his excitement when he discovered the news.
“I just had my close family there and they all went crazy for me,” he said.
“So they were all pretty happy and it was a good moment when I heard my name get called out.”
Fellow South Australian, Aaron Nietschke, faced similar obstacles, unable to view Fox Footy’s broadcast.
Instead, this
“I was just watching it on my phone,” Nietschke told Melbourne Media.
“We don’t have Foxtel so I was following it on the AFL app.”
It wasn’t the ideal method for Nietschke to learn about his future, but he was far from concerned.
“I was pretty stoked,” he said.
“I’m just wrapped to be joining Melbourne.”
All draftees had a unique experience during the National Draft, with some undergoing strange methods to find out where their careers are taking them.
But no matter how the announcement was heard, every player was thrilled to have joined the club and they are ready to embark on an exciting journey in the red and blue.
