An AFL list spot for the whole Faulkhead family
EVERYTHING had been building to this moment for Oskar Faulkhead.
Session upon session spent in the gym preparing for his shot at the AFL paled in comparison to the 4½ hours he would spend in the car simply going to training.
Now the 19-year-old is the Gold Coast Suns’ newest player – but he is not content with simply making the cut.
Faulkhead was announced this week as the Suns mid-season rookie draftee, sending his family in Victoria into hysterics when he was revealed as pick No.7. And it’s his parents the talented prospect gives the most credit to for giving him a shot at the AFL.
They were the ones who braved the long trips from Bendigo to get to each game and training session, listening through his podcasts as he contemplated how he would go about his efforts.
This moment, Faulkhead said, was as much about them as it was him.
“My parents have put in the hours for me – then to games most weekends it was probably six and a bit (hours) to get there,” Faulkhead said.
“I think it’s just the love of the game and every bit of it, the teammates and everything.
“My parents had that belief in me that I could do it, and showing them I got drafted proves I can. They were over the moon as well. There was a big party – everyone came over and celebrated.
“It’s very surreal. When my name got read out, it was lifechanging and I loved every minute of it.”
Faulkhead is expected to arrive on the Gold Coast next Friday, where he will meet the squad. There is a chance he will line up for the club’s VFL side for the clash with Collingwood on Sunday in Melbourne.