A little over a week ago, Mitchell Wilkins was at home watching the Draft coverage with his family and then his entire world was turned upside down.

Born and raised in a suburb just outside of Adelaide’s city limits, the 18-year old listened as North Melbourne called his name out at pick 47 and was hit by feelings of disbelief.

“It hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” he told kangaroos.com.au.

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“It’s all really quick and you feel shocked…when my name got called out at the Draft, the next two days went really quickly as I was saying goodbye and getting everything ready. It’s hard to believe.”

The defender had an interrupted year due to injury and says he’s anticipating getting back into full training again soon.

“With my shoulder reconstruction it’s been four months since I played and it’s just unreal. I don’t think it will really sink in until I’m back into some physical contact and actually playing again.

“Everything is in fast forward. When we get back to Melbourne it’ll be Christmas before I know it and then it’s January and the season is upon us.”

Wilkins missed out on state selection but was able to impress in the SANFL with Norwood’s Reserves.

“I’ve never thought AFL could be a career for me until this year. I gave up cricket when I was in Year 10 and that’s when my footy sky-rocketed I suppose and I started to develop. I had a good season last year and this year I was lucky enough to get a few games in at Norwood Reserves before I did my shoulder. That’s when I got noticed I think.

“I would have liked to have pushed for a senior game but did my shoulder. I wouldn’t have thought it was too much of a different path but I am lucky.” 

He says his father has had a big influence on him and his footy. 

“My dad Michale played for an SANFL team Central Districts and he’s done a bit of coaching and I suppose it all started from there. I just tried to experience it when I was six and just kept playing all the way through and loved it.

“He’s a bit of a legend in his own lunchtime and played a lot of footy. He’s quite well known down that way at Centrals.”

Despite being a footballing family, they didn’t really support any particular AFL side.
“We don’t really have a team. My sister’s a mad Geelong supporter but really we’ve always just loved watching good footy. North for me was an easy team to immediately like. A lot of people, if they don’t go for North, they’re usually their second favourite team and I was absolutely rapt to have my named called out by them.

“I was stoked. It’s quite obvious, when I’ve watched AFL as a kid, that North have a really good culture and I was really happy to go there and my family was really happy for me as well.”

There was elation, but also a mix of sadness when it came time to say goodbye.

“I do have a girlfriend back home and it was pretty tough. I’ve had two nights in Melbourne with my host family and then I was off to Utah straight away. It’s all happened pretty quick which is hard on me, my family and my girlfriend.

“I’ll just push myself through it but during training you’re pretty preoccupied with activity so you don’t tend to think about it as much as you would in your spare time, and usually in that time you can talk to your family so it’s not that bad.”

While thoughts of his family and loved ones will always be on his mind, Wilkins will also have another focus; to develop quickly and make up the gap that exists between him and the regular AFL players.

“It’s going to be hard to get to where they are in the short term and so far training has been a lot easier on us recruits because they don’t want to break us straight away. They’ve lightened our load, but eventually we’ll be brought up to speed once they’re satisfied our bodies can handle it.

“It will take some time with coaching and personal development to get up with them but I’ll work hard at that.”

Position-wise, Wilkins has played primarily as a defender as is known for his exceptional ball use, but says he’ll do anything and play any role to get a game.

“I’ll play any spot, I really don’t mind. I’m happy to play anywhere. Hopefully I can get another five centimetres and hit 190, that’d be nice,” he joked.

“Chuck on another ten kilos too before I’m right to play an AFL game I reckon!”