For the players selected in the NAB AFL Draft, that night becomes the realisation of a dream, but for each player selected there are countless others who miss out.

That experience of faltering at the final hurdle can spell the end of some players, but it can also be the making of them, and for North Melbourne mid-season draft pick Charlie Ham, it was.

Selected with the 16th pick in Wednesday’s mid-season draft, Ham could finally get the opportunity at AFL level he was forced to wait for.

His Geelong Falcons coach Paul Corrigan says the fact Ham was forced to bide his time has allowed him to mature and improve as both a player and a person.

“He (Ham) was determined to put his best foot forward and he knew that the top age, 19-year-olds, were going to get an opportunity and we were going to try and help him get on an AFL list … and he has been able to do that,” Corrigan told the Geelong Advertiser.

“He can go in there and have an impact straight away, he is quite mature … when you think about the draftees that have already played some senior footy at the Kangaroos, he can fit in there.”

“Once he gets locked in to that environment, I would be surprised if he doesn’t play this year.”

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When David Noble was appointed as North Melbourne’s senior coach, he made no secrets about wanting to inject more pace into his side, and Ham certainly fits that bill.

Capable of playing in the midfield or defence, his high-standard of kicking and strong athleticism will translate well into the AFL environment, according to Corrigan.

“He is a beautiful kick and he was one of the best kicks in the squad,” Corrigan said.

“The way he run and carries with the ball off half back is really enticing, he has some strengths and attributes there and his game will only keep growing.”