CONNOR’S TIME TO SHINE
DRYSDALE teenager Connor Idun is done playing the waiting game.
The Geelong Falcons defender, who completed his final Year 12 exam on Friday, wants the national draft to be here already.
It can be a long time for players to wait from when their seasons finish to potentially having their names read out by an AFL club, but Idun has been keeping himself busy during the week by working extensively with fitness guru Matt Critchley to maintain his fitness.
He tried putting the draft at the back of his mind during exams but with his school commitments all but done and with only 11 days to go, he says he is excited at the thought of landing at an AFL club.
“It (being drafted) is very tough not to think about it, it is always in the back of my mind, but exams helped with that,” Idun said. “It is especially tough during the exam period because you can’t talk to any clubs or managers, so you don’t know where you sit. It is a bit of a mental game but focusing on studying takes your mind off it.
“But I spoke to a few clubs during the year and at the combine, and I have a couple clubs coming over this week, and hopefully a few more might give me a call.”
Idun, who was born in England and came to Australia with his mother when he was only four, is an intelligent young man.
He studied English, further maths, accounting, psychology and biology this year at Christian College and wants to keep his options open about further education.
The devoted Boston Celtics fan is predicted to go as early as Round 2 of this year’s draft but he said his mates had ensured that he did not get too far ahead of himself.
“I feed off my mates a lot,” Idun said.
“So I enjoy doing something competitive with them, like shooting hoops or playing table tennis.
“Your mates keep you grounded and it is good to be around them.
“I am a Celtics fan and follow them pretty closely ... they should be going better than what they are but I think they have plenty of upside.” At 191cm, he describes himself as a raw, developing one-on-one contested backman who can play tall or small, and says he will be forever grateful if a club were to select him later this month. “It is obviously a pretty anxious wait but for my name to be called out would be a dream come true,” he said. “It is something that I have dreamt about since I was a young kid and for that to become reality it would be awesome. “For my family as well, it would be overwhelming and I would just be forever grateful to the club who gives me a chance. “So hopefully it comes true.” THE DRAFT DREAMERS SERIES WILL RUN EVERY DAY UNTIL THE DRAFT