Western Bulldogs recruit Toby McLean recalls his AFL draft day experience

HUNDREDS of young AFL hopefuls will be nervously waiting for their number to be called in tonight’s draft. Toby McLean went through that last year and knows how they feel.

St Kilda v Bulldogs

TOBY McLean’s life changed last year when the Western Bulldogs selected him with pick 26 in the national draft.

The former Oakleigh Charger recalls his draft day experience from a year ago.

Toby McLean played four games for the Western Bulldogs this year after being picked up in last year’s draft. Picture: Michael Klein.

“This time last year I was nervous as I waited all day for the draft to start. Then I was so relieved when the Western Bulldogs selected me. A year on and it’s draft day and now I’m thinking about which players will get drafted to the Dogs and what they’re going to be like.

“Nervous was the main feeling I had leading into draft day, not so much excitement because you don’t know if you’ll get drafted at all until your name gets called out. You go about normal life up until the day and then it really hits because your life changes once you get drafted.

Toby McLean looks to get a handpass over veteran Dale Morris at pre-season training. Picture: Colleen Petch.

“About 10 clubs spoke to me in the lead up, mostly Melbourne clubs, which I was happy about. At the draft combine the Dogs were the last club to see me because apparently they didn’t want other clubs to know they were interested. Normally in the combine interviews clubs will ask who else have you spoken to and the Bulldogs didn’t want anyone else to know.

“Going into the day I probably thought St Kilda or maybe Richmond might pick me up. The number Jack Lonie got taken, pick 41, I thought I might go around there.

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“I slept the night before the draft because it wasn’t until the next night. The day of the draft I was thinking just hurry up and get to 6.30pm because it’s just killing me. That night we had about 15-20 people over to watch it, my mum, uncle, girlfriend Laura and friends from school and parents.

Toby McLean (second from front) with the Western Bulldogs 2014 draftees. Picture: Colleen Petch.

“At the start of the broadcast they were talking to No 1 pick Paddy McCartin on stage and we realised we could press red on Foxtel and watch the live feed so my friends and I watched in one room and Mum and a few of the parents watched on delay in the other room. We heard my name get called out at pick 26 but the adults didn't, so we were all yelling and screaming and they were like ‘what’s going on, what’s going on?’

“I told Mum I got drafted to the Dogs and she gave me a big hug. Then Brent Prismall the welfare manager at the Western Bulldogs rang me, then Luke Beveridge and a few of the players texted me, Dale Morris, Bob Murphy and Bont (Marcus Bontempelli).

Toby McLean in action for the Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup last season. Picture: Theo Karanikos/AFL Media.

“Now my main emotion was relief. I’ve got a better job! I’d been working at Mulgrave Country Club cleaning tables, clearing glasses and setting rooms up and had to call them the next day to tell them I couldn’t work there anymore.

“Because it was a Thursday night the shops were open late, a few of my mates drove to Fountain Gate and wanted to get me a Dogs jumper but there were none at the AFL Store so they bought me a teddy bear with a Dogs beanie. It’s still sitting on the shelf in my bedroom at home.

“Everything did change that night. All of a sudden you’ve got to grow up, you’re not really ready to but you’re forced to. That weekend, on the Sunday, we went to the club, met all the other first year players, got shown around, given our lockers, numbers and our uniforms to wear on the Monday, our first day.

“To all of the draft hopefuls feeling nervous and excited today, take it all in. Whatever will happen will happen so just try and take the result as it comes. It can be a life changing day although you’re just joining a new club but if you don’t get picked up you have lots of options and opportunities ahead, so don’t get down about it.”

Originally published as Western Bulldogs recruit Toby McLean recalls his AFL draft day experience