Early start for new recruits

WHEN Osca Riccardi and Ted Clohesy heard the news that they were officially drafted to Geelong on Wednesday, the pair were already nearing the end of their first day as AFL players.

With Geelong having committed to rookie drafting the Falcons duo if they were still available after Tuesday’s draft, Riccardi and Clohesy began a day early.

“It was pretty crazy, me and Teddy both got a call around 10pm, 10.30pm last (Tuesday) night saying, ‘8am start, be there’,” Riccardi (pictured) said.

“We didn’t do too much, we just did about a quarter of the training and then watched the rest of it and did all the weights.

“It was a bit of a big day, bit tired physically and mentally … but ready to get into it, got a camp coming up tomorrow (Thursday) for the next couple of days and then Monday kicking off a bit more of pre-season with everyone.”

By the time Riccardi and Clohesy left the club on Wednesday afternoon, fellow Falcon and Newtown & Chilwell junior Oscar Murdoch was making his way into the Cattery after being selected with pick 18 in the rookie draft.

With Jhye Clark having been drafted on Monday night by the Cats at pick eight, it meant four Falcons were set to remain in Geelong for 2023.

Riccardi said it was exciting to have three of his mates joining him on the AFL “journey”.

“It’s so good to have some of my best mates, knowing Oscar and playing all my junior footy with (him),” he said. “Then obviously being mates with Ted through school and then playing this year with Jhye and Ted and Osc, it’s a big achievement for all four of us and it’s just exciting to have those three to have the journey with me as well.”

The quartet, as well as fellow draftee Phoenix Foster, will join the other first to fouryear players at a camp on Thursday before returning to link up the rest of the squad on the track on Monday.

“Starting next week it’s a bit more full on I think, but ready to take it on 100 per cent as well as all the other boys,” Riccardi said. “There (was) at least 30-plus (names to learn on Wednesday), and that’s just the minimum, there’s a lot to learn, but it’ll come.”