Obviously, nothing fits that bill less than Tongala’s Harley Reid hearing his name called first by West Coast.
On the flip side, though, there was the shock of night one relief for Shepparton’s Oscar Ryan, taken by Adelaide at pick 27.
What about some names you might not have initially considered in Goulburn Valley terms when AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon read the words that fulfilled their dreams?
West Coast was again in the thick of it on the second night, selecting ‘‘local’’ 190cm midfielder Clay Hall, who bolstered his stocks this year at Peel Thunder in the WAFL.
Hall made Western Australia’s Under-18 National Championship squad in consecutive seasons, earning significant attention for a lockdown job on new Eagles teammate Reid during the carnival.
Hall’s father, former Mooroopna coach Derek, provided insight into the build-up.
“(The draft pick) was a very euphoric moment, but the half-hour leading up to when his name was called wasn’t the nicest,” Hall said.
“Once it happened, it was just relief and a lot of gratitude.
“We’re so grateful he got the opportunity, because there are a lot of good players who don’t get picked up.”
One of the local hard-luck stories in this year’s crop would have been Mooroopna’s Coby James, childhood best friend of Hall during his time growing up in the Goulburn Valley.
Having coached the Cats from 2004-07, then Katandra in Picola District Football League from 2008-10, Derek watched his son and James grow up around each other and football from a young age.
“It was a hard decision (to leave the state in 2014), but we didn’t see ourselves living there because I’m a WA boy,” Hall said.
“We left when he was nine and those boys were going to primary school together, but my wife and Coby’s mum were best friends and that friendship between everyone continued after we left.”
Looking forward, however, Hall sees it rosy as his son heads into a youthful and rebuilding Eagles side.
“Clay spent a bit of time in Perth when the national championships were on, and he knows Perth well and loves it there,” Hall said.
“He’s excited and training well. Just being in that environment will teach him a lot.”
James is now on his way to North Melbourne’s VFL side for 2024, so hope is far from lost.
Another deceptively native draftee came eight selections later when Hawthorn snatched up medium-tall defender Bodie Ryan with pick 46.
Spending his two pre-draft seasons at Glenelg in the SANFL, Ryan would play through the under-18 carnival with South Australia last season.
The cousin of 2022 Collingwood draftee Jakob, the new Hawk had plenty of his own GV influence before starring for SA in his draft year.
Before that tale is told, though, there is the matter of how the moment itself unfolded.
“(Draft night) was very nerve-racking, but very exciting,” Bodie’s mother Katie Ryan said.
“A few clubs had said he was a second-round pick, so we didn’t know if it would happen there or if he would be picked at all.
“Everyone was very pumped and all of his mates came around shortly after.
“Jakob was really good for Bodie this year as well. He helped him out with a lot of advice, because it’s all new.”
So, what were the sporting elements that tied the Ryan clan to this region before the GV export family took off across Victoria’s western border?
The answer provides multiple layers of illustrious family involvement.
“I played netball for Shepparton, and his dad Ritchie was in Tatura playing GVL footy,” Katie said.
“His brother Steve and cousin Trav were there as well, but we’ve been in Adelaide for around 21 years now.
“My brother played at Shepparton as well, then came to Adelaide to play for Glenelg and he’s the CEO there now.
“My dad was the Bears’ president for a few years as well, and coached the thirds to premierships in the 1990s.”
Even without having spent his junior years here, the descendant of GVL royalty bears stronger ties to the region than many.
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