DION Johnstone was at home with family and friends when he found out he was selected by Melbourne at No.68 in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft.

He wasn’t sure where he sat in the draft pecking order, but hoped that his wish would be realised.

“I had my fingers crossed that something would happen and hopefully the AFL dream would come true – and luckily it did. I couldn’t be any happier to be at the Melbourne Football Club,” he told Melbourne TV.  

“The 24 hours after that was pretty full on and the phone was going off with text messages and congratulations and phone calls.

“It was a night I’ll never forget … I just fell to the ground and all of my mates and family just jumped on me with joy and it was good.”

Johnstone acknowledged that it was daunting arriving to the club on his first day, but he quickly felt welcomed by the players and coaches.

Originally from Warrnambool – he knew of another Melbourne recruit, four-time Hawthorn premiership player Jordan Lewis, who also hails from the south-west Victorian town – Johnstone moved to Melbourne for the start of year 10.

He gained an Indigenous scholarship to Scotch College through AFL Victoria. He jumped at the opportunity, but said it was daunting moving from the country to the city.  

Johnstone went to Scotch College with Will Brodie, who was drafted by the Gold Coast Suns at No.9, and Jy Simpkin, who was selected by North Melbourne at No.12.

He became really good friends with the duo, which made his transition easier. In 2016, Johnstone was captain of the Scotch College football team, which he said was a memorable achievement. He also played for Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup.

A small forward – his tackling and pressure are features of his game – Johnstone also possesses good speed and loves to kick a goal. He has likened his game to Fremantle forward and 2014 All-Australian Hayden Ballantyne.

“I just try and move the way he does and we play similar roles as well, so I based my game around him this year,” he said.

Johnstone is also proud of his Indigenous culture and is rapt to have Neville Jetta as a new teammate, having met him through Indigenous programs.

“I’m from the Gunditjmara tribe from back in Warrnambool. It comes from my mum’s side of the family, from my granddad and so on up the generations,” he said.

“I’m very proud of my culture and background, and I’m very thankful for it as well.

“He’s an inspiration to the Indigenous culture and Nev’s an awesome bloke.”

Looking ahead to 2017, Johnstone has genuine ambitions to make his AFL debut in the opening round next year, but he’s also realistic to know that he has plenty of work to undertake.

“[I] just want to get to know everyone – the coaches and players – and just settle in,” he said.

“Out on the track [I want] to just do everything I need to do and work my way into it and work my way into the main drills.

“The biggest change for me for next year is to hopefully be playing round one, but if not, then just doing the team things and doing everything right for myself and the team as well.”