On the night of the NAB AFL Draft, a player’s life changes as soon as he’s selected. Within mere seconds any young man can go from an unheralded 18-year-old to suddenly having the hopes and expectations of thousands of ardent supporters on their shoulders.

The AFL is a national competition, so it’s not uncommon for players to leave their hometowns and their families to fulfil their dream of making it at the highest level, as they seek out the glory of the ultimate prize ... a premiership.

With half of the league’s teams based in Melbourne, the journey from junior football in Adelaide to an AFL list in Melbourne is a well-trodden one, but North Melbourne’s Tom Powell believes the move has given him maturity in both his football and his personal life.

“I think the most important thing to do is just be open-minded. I think I’m a pretty independent person,” Powell told North Media.

“I’m with a host family at the moment and they’ve really helped me find my feet … I think you get so immersed in the footy club and you enjoy your time so much that you won’t forget about your family, but I guess you won’t sit there and dwell on them all day.

“It’s good for me to keep in touch with those people back in Adelaide, whether that’s just giving them a phone call or playing video games with them.”

Despite his impressive start on the field, Powell isn't just excelling on the football field. 

“I’m mostly at uni, so I dedicate a bit of time to that each week, I’m just part-time at the moment because obviously footy is my number one priority,” he said.

“I’d like to keep continuing with my degree and just have it ticking over in the background.

“I don’t like to look too far into the future. Right now, the only thing I want to do is get my first win with the Kangaroos.”