Oscar buzzing after draft dream comes true
HAVING missed out on being selected in the AFL national draft, Geelong Falcon Oscar Murdoch was “too nervous” to watch the rookie draft.
With his footy fate on the line, the 18-year-old rebounding defender turned off Wednesday’s rookie draft after just a handful of picks.
But when his phone started ringing not long after, his anxiety was swept away by joy after finding out he had been recruited by the Cats at pick 18.
“I started watching it but then got too nervous, so had to switch it off,” Murdoch said.
“I think I switched it off a few picks before Geelong’s … my phone buzzed a few times and then checked it and had my mates calling me and I was like, ‘Surely not’.
“One of my mates was like, ‘You’ve been picked up by the Cats, mate’, I was just over the moon, it was awesome.
“Mum was at work and Dad … was watching it with his dad and my uncle, they called me pretty quick after … Dad was a bit emotional, Mum was a bit more composed.”
Murdoch joined fellow Falcons Jhye Clark and Ted Clohesy in being drafted to the Cats, as well as fellow Newtown & Chilwell junior Osca Riccardi.
He said the chance to remain in Geelong and kick off his AFL career with mates by his side would help him adjust to life in the big league.
“Definitely going to make the transition easier, especially being with a few of the Falcons boys as well,” Murdoch said.
“I reckon it’s just going to add to the experience, just going to be awesome.”
Murdoch ran into Clohesy and Riccardi on Wednesday afternoon as he made his way into the club, the duo having been through their first day as Cats players.
The trio joined the rest of the first to four year players in a camp on Thursday.
They will return today as they prepare themselves to join the rest of the senior squad at preseason training on Monday.