Geelong draftee Jesse Mellor on his surprise for St Patrick’s Primary School and his mates
While Cats rookie pick-up Jesse Mellor didn’t hear his name called in the national draft, the reaction from a local primary school before it was official made up for it. See the video.
Geelong academy draftee Jesse Mellor didn’t get to hear his name read out in the national draft, but two animated reactions gave him an even greater adrenaline rush.
Mellor knew he was Geelong bound as a Category B rookie through his Next Generation Academy ties if he slipped through the national draft without a bid.
His academy links came despite being born to two Australian parents in Thailand, where he lived for just the first eight months of his life.
WATCH THE VIDEO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
“I was pretty disappointed for about five minutes after the national draft, and they (Cats recruiters) called me up, and I was pumped, and they all come over,” Mellor said.
That initial disappointment on Thursday night turned into chaos when the Geelong Falcons forward got the green light for his mates to head over and celebrate.
A video posted to the Cats’ socials shows around 20 of his best mates flying through the door with excitement.
A dream come true for Jesse Mellor 🤩 pic.twitter.com/44XveWtmAU
— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) November 21, 2025
“It was pretty cool, I didn’t expect them to be so up and about, so it was great,” Mellor said.
“They made the night, they’re so special to me, some of my best mates from in Geelong. And it’s great to be able to stay around with them as well.”
His hero’s welcome the next day at St Patrick’s Primary School in Geelong West was arguably even better.
The U18 All-Australian had been working at the school — where he was once a student – throughout his draft year, and gave principal Luke Sheehan the heads up that he was heading to the Cats.
With a 2:30pm assembly on Friday ahead of his official announcement as a Geelong draftee in the 3pm rookie draft, Mellor went down to give the students the exclusive details.
“I’m going to let our special visitor tell you some very exciting news,” Sheehan said to his students on Friday.
Up went Mellor to the front of the assembly, keeping things coy with a plain jacket on.
“So, there’s some pretty disappointing news,” Mellor said to a chorus of dismayed children. “I am not going to be working at St Pat’s for the rest of the year.”
“Nooooo!” the kids yelled.
Then he gave them all an almighty surprise in a truly heartwarming moment.
“But, but but, there is some good news,” Mellor said, unzipping his jacket to reveal a Geelong polo underneath.
“YEAAAH!” the kids roared.
Mellor received a mixed reception from the youngsters when he asked, ‘who likes the Cats?’, and said he expects all of them to barrack for Geelong.
“So what has happened is, you guys are very special. This hasn’t been announced yet, so you are the first to know. The Cats have selected me in the rookie draft and it is about to come out in half an hour,” Mellor told the students.
“It is pretty exciting, I was at one point a preppy at St Pat’s just like these kids here having a kick on the oval, always had a dream to get on an AFL list. And it’s happened.”
Cue another loud cheer from the children.
Mellor loved working at the school this year and thanked the staff for being so accommodating with his busy football schedule.
“It was pretty special and the kids were pretty up and about, and it was good to say farewell to them, because they’ve been a huge part of the journey,” Mellor said this week.
“That was a huge part of my footy this year down at St Patrick’s primary school, they were such a big help.”
“I was in their year five team, and the principal, they were just so supportive.”
Mr Sheehan shared a humorous insight into Jesse as a student after an accidental “6-7” reference, which was almost the biggest cheer of the assembly.
“A long time ago, Jesse was sitting up the back there. Jesse was a student here for a long time and Jesse, you might have even come and visited my office a couple of times,” Sheehan said to laughs from the students and teachers.
“But a lot of hard work over the last few years, a lot of discipline, making sure he was doing all the right things. Jesse now is starting his professional football career on Monday.”
Mellor’s dad Greg, an assistant coach at Richmond from 2011-2016, was crucial in helping him reach the top level.
Greg also coached Geelong West in the Geelong league for eight years with Jesse making his senior debut under him last year.
His mum Toni has also been a significant role model, juggling full-time work, raising Jesse and her youngest son Finn, and studying a double degree in psychology and criminology.
Toni is now a full-time psychologist.
“He (Greg) was just pumped, he was pretty proud. He’s been such a huge role model for me and he’s been great,” Jesse said.
“It was great for the whole family, like my mum was so up and about, and she’s been so good this week, giving her calls and stuff. And she’s great as well.
“I look up to her a lot.”
Jesse trained with Geelong during last pre-season through the academy and at that point he was no certainty to be drafted.
But the powerful 184cm forward went to another level in his draft year, finishing as an All-Australian at the national carnival for Vic Country, earning a spot in the Coates Talent League team of the year and featuring at VFL level for the Cats.
“It’s just crazy, this is your dream as a kid and you always think about playing AFL. And just realising how hard it is to actually get on a list and now I’m here, I’m just giving it my all,” Mellor said.
With only one Category B rookie spot remaining at Geelong, Mellor’s non-selection in the national draft meant his academy and Falcons teammate Ben Rongdit was left undrafted.
Rongdit was highly touted entering his draft year as a member of the AFL Academy but suffered an ACL blow midway through the season, hurting his chances after a syndesmosis setback in 2024.
Mellor is confident Rongdit will join him in the AFL ranks one day.
“Definitely felt for him. Everyone has their own journeys, and he’s a great player, and he’s been really stitched up with injury,” Mellor said.
“I think he’s definitely going to get there, he’s a great player, and he’s got a lot of upside to him, so he’s going to be right.”
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Originally published as Geelong draftee Jesse Mellor on his surprise for St Patrick’s Primary School and his mates
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