AFL Draft 2023: Geelong’s Angus Hastie inspired by NFL legend Tom Brady
One of the Geelong Falcons’ best draft prospects has revealed how he has been inspired by of sport’s most famous names ahead of the AFL Draft. Here’s what he said.
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Geelong West’s Angus Hastie is taking a leaf out of NFL legend Tom Brady’s book, as he wrestles with the anticipation of AFL draft night.
The 18-year-old’s AFL Draft Combine testing last month didn’t go to plan after a pesky back foot shuffle saw him disqualified three times in the 20m sprint.
However, the darting defender has taken comfort in Brady’s famously poor draft combine results before becoming arguably history’s greatest American football player.
“Tom Brady was the 199th draft pick and probably ran the slowest 40-yard sprint in his year so I look at that and (it) lets me settle,” Hastie said.
“It was funny but a little bit embarrassing at the same time.”
Representing Vic Country and being the Geelong region’s lone National Draft Combine representative this year, Hastie took on a big role with the Geelong Falcons in 2023.
Less than a week away from potentially fulfilling his dream, Hastie is particularly grateful for all the support from his local club, Geelong West.
“The coaches down there gave me great opportunities to develop my own game and then to go off at Falcons at that next level, they were still supporting me through it,” he said.
“Geelong West has been unreal and it’s always going to be my home club and I’m always going to go back and watch games down there.”
Acting as a rebounding force off halfback, Hastie’s speed and athleticism are his clear strengths after coming third in the combine’s agility test.
Hastie said he’s spoken to several AFL clubs throughout the year and will go anywhere to fulfil his big league dream.
“Whatever team takes a chance on me, whether that’s in Perth or Queensland or South Australia or even Victoria I’m just looking forward to potentially having a spot at an AFL club” he said.
He said it was “pretty exciting” to be interviewed by Geelong being a Cats fan as a kid.
“That was pretty unreal,” he said.
The agile defender only wants a small circle around him on draft night and will have his fingers crossed to hear his name.
The AFL National Draft starts on November 20.
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Originally published as AFL Draft 2023: Geelong’s Angus Hastie inspired by NFL legend Tom Brady
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