How are you feeling right now?
It’s a pretty weird feeling to try and describe, it’s out of the blue a little bit. I wasn’t really expecting anything until maybe Monday and the Rookie Draft. It’s a bit of a shock and it’s left me a little bit lost for words, but I am really grateful for the opportunity. To be given the chance after everything that I’ve been through is great.
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey?
Breaking my leg in round one of my draft year in 2013 was a big set back. After an okay start to under 18’s and then taking a while to recover from that and then doing my ACL in 2015 after finally getting back in good form. That put me out for about six months, so to finally get back and have an alright year last year and then back it up this year with being able to debut for East Perth was good.
What have you learnt over the journey?
Nothing comes easy and there is always going to be setbacks. You’ve just got to embrace them and get what’s sort of given to you and move on from there. Nothing is a certainty in football especially with how the game is evolving. You’ve just got to take what you’re given and go from there.
Were you watching the draft with anyone?
About 10-15 of my East Perth teammates, just at one of the boys house. We were watching along mainly to see what kind of teammates we’d get through the alignment with West Coast and also to see how some of our East Perth teammates go.
What was it like to hear you’re name get called out?
We all just got up and yelled a fair bit. All the boys were pretty happy, they’ve been big supporters of me over the last few years and helped me get to where I am. So they’re all really proud. I guess they’ll all become Freo supporters now.
And what about your family?
They’ll be over the moon. I haven’t spoken to mum and dad yet, they are down in Busselton. But I’m sure they’ll be following along and listening to everything. It’s a little unexpected, that’s why I wasn’t watching it with them. It wasn’t till Monday that they were going to be nervous.
Did you go for Freo being a WA boy?
A little bit, you always prefer your home state. But over that last few years I haven’t really had a key team. I played state footy with Cam McCarthy and with Connor Blakely when we were in development squads. So to be able to play with guys from the same state is a privilege to me. I’m pretty excited to get into it.
Who are you most excited to meet and learn from?
Definitely Aaron Sandilands, for one, he is a superstar. I have grown up seeing him develop and become one of the best rucks in the game. So to be able to work with him and pick his brains about the ruck craft is pretty daunting, but an exciting prospect.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I’ve been studying a Bachelor of Technology at ECU. Outside of football I have a passion for cars and everything automotive. So when I’m not kicking the footy with my best friends I’m pretty much working with cars
