Tara Murray
New North Melbourne defender Kallan Dawson didn’t have to wait long to celebrate being drafted with his friends.
The Williamstown footballer knew about an hour before the AFL mid-season draft on Wednesday that the Kangaroos were going to take him at pick two.
While he was watching it at home, his mates were also keeping an eye on the picks.
“Only an hour beforehand North called me for a zoom meeting and told me and it eased my nerves before the draft,” Dawson said.
“I was allowed to tell my family but we had to keep it a secret. I was watching it with my family and friends and my mates rocked up just after it was announced.
“They were waiting around the corner.”
Dawson’s journey to becoming an AFL player doesn’t follow the norm.
He played for Williamstown Junior Football Club, before moving to Williamstown CYMS, where he would become premiership player.
There was no NAB League or pathway system for Dawson. He would head down to Williamstown’s Victorian Football League side in 2018.
Even then the AFL dream was still a long way off. He would play a match here or there for the Seagulls, but he hadn’t been able to seal a spot in the team until this year.
Dawson admits that it had crossed his mind he wouldn’t make it at VFL level, let alone in the AFL.
“I still can’t believe it,” he said.
“It was pretty hard last year and this year I was just trying to get a VFL game for Willy.
“I had a good pre-season and was able to string a few games together.
“After a few games I felt confident to play at that level.”
Dawson got the opportunity in the Seagulls back line, with the departure of a couple of players including Charlie Dean, who was drafted by Collingwood.
With the Seagulls struggling, Dawson saw plenty of the ball come his way down back.
He thought he was going “OK” but didn’t realise he was putting his name on the lips of AFL recruiters.
“I was in shock initially when clubs asked to do interviews,” he said.
“All the clubs were really good.”
Dawson quickly headed down to Arden Street to tour the facilities and get started. It has meant that he had to put his apprenticeship on hold.
He said he was lucky his boss is a North Melbourne supporter.
Contracted until the end of next year, Dawson said he’s ready to get down to earth and get working.
“I’m coming back from an ankle injury,” he said.
“I should be able to run next week and play in a couple of weeks. Hopefully I can play VFL and then hopefully push for an AFL spot.”
Meanwhile Western Jets co-captain Massimo D’Ambrosio was taken at pick three by Essendon.
Former Western Bulldogs player Will Hayes will get a second chance at an AFL career after being taken by Carlton.
