For most players, draft night is a time for nerves, expectation and anticipation, but not for Jacob Edwards. He was calm ahead of his selection.
After weeks of hype and build-up, North Melbourne’s newest recruit knew he was going to be taken with the first pick of the mid-season draft, not through confidence in his own ability, but because David Noble had told him so.
The consensus number one pick out of this crop of players, Edwards says he can’t wait to get going at North.
“[Tuesday] night I had a Zoom call with North and David Noble said they’d pick me up, so I was pretty happy with that,” Edwards told AFL.com.au.
“Luke McDonald, just before they read my name out, he messaged me to say congratulations and welcome to the club.
“I can’t wait, I’m stoked to get there … I love this club and I can’t wait to get going.”
Still completing his year 12 studies, Edwards’ decision to nominate for the mid-season draft came later than most, with the ruck/forward weighing up how a potential spot on an AFL list could impact his studies.
He says despite now being a listed player at North, he would jump at the chance to continue to play school football while he still can.
“It’s a pretty serious deal for me and it’s obviously a dream I’ve always wanted,” Edwards said.
“It was something I just wanted to make sure of … just having those chats with my family and making sure it [was] the right decision.”
After the thrill of draft night, it’s back to online classes for Edwards, who will now have to juggle his school commitments with those of an elite AFL footballer.
He says he’s excited for the challenge of combining those commitments over the remainder of 2021.
“It’s been pretty full on lately. These last couple of months have been pretty crazy with all these media calls … it’s just something I have to handle now, and I don’t mind having a chat to people,” Edwards added.
“It’s not going to be normal … it’s pretty surreal to be honest.”
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