New Giant Tom Hutchesson found out he’d been drafted mid-flight between Paris and Doha
GWS draftee Tom Hutchesson was in the air when he found out he’d been drafted. In fact, he was somewhere between Paris and Doha when he got access to free wi-fi and his phone started buzzing.
GWS
Don't miss out on the headlines from GWS. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Tom Hutchesson was up in the air, completely in the dark and unaware he’d made the cut as a Giant.
The 24-year-old midfielder from the little town of Millicent in south east Adelaide was oblivious to his fate as GWS used their pick 65 to bring him to the club last week.
He was the final player chosen on night two at the AFL draft.
In NFL, that pick is referred to as Mr Irrelevant. In AFL, there are several examples of that title proving anything but – including Crow Taylor Walker (pick 75 in 2007), ex-Tiger and Power midfielder David Rodan (pick 86 in 2006) and ex-Kangaroo Shane Clayton (pick 90 in 1998).
Hutchesson, a carpenter by trade, was about to pack away his tool kit and begin the adventure he thought had slipped away.
Not that he knew it.
Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
He was on a plane heading home from a long-planned holiday in Europe with his partner as all the draft drama unfolded in Melbourne.
But with a brief window of free wi-fi on the flight home, Hutchesson calculated the time in Australia and decided to check his phone ... just in case.
“We were somewhere between Paris and Doha,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “Still two or three hours until we landed. It just started going ping, ping, ping with all these messages and texts, from friends, family and people at the Giants,” he said. “I was not expecting it at all.
“My partner was asleep in the seat next to me. I tapped her on the shoulder and showed her the phone. I didn’t really need to say anything. My heart was racing, it was very emotional.”
And as he begins his AFL adventure with Leon Cameron’s side, he’s had to put down the saw, hang up the tool belt and tell his boss he won’t be back to his day job.
“It’s all good, he’s rapt for me and said there’s a job for me if I ever need it,” he said.
“Only last year I was playing country footy and then I had the opportunity to play with the Crows’ reserve team and I just thought ‘you know what, I’ll give it one last shot.’ This has happened and it’s pretty crazy.
“It was gone (the AFL chance) but here we are. And clubs are picking up more mature-age recruits, guys like me that haven’t been picked up in the past.”
The top-up player for the Crows’ SANFL side impressed in his 14 games as a midfielder and half forward and the draft beckoned.
He is the Giants’ oldest draftee to have not previously been listed by an AFL club.
“I’ll bring my hunger for the footy and my speed,” he said. “Those are my strengths and as a mature age hopefully bring that steady head.”
MORE NEWS:
GWS star Stephen Coniglio will thrive as captain, says Lenny Hayes
GWS Giants star Stephen Coniglio to take captaincy from veterans Phil Davis and Callan Ward
Collingwood’s midfield slips down the rankings in Champion Data’s 2020 positional ratings
Hutchesson is a big admirer of new Giants skipper Stephen Coniglio and fellow midfielder Josh Kelly.
“Really easy to watch and hopefully learn from them. Let’s see what the year bring,” he said.
“We feel he’s got a lot to offer us as that small forward who can go into the midfield,” added Giants national recruiting manager Adrian Caruso.
And if any of his new teammates are thinking they’ve found just the man to undertake those jobs around the house they’ve been putting off – forget it.
“Time for a rest,” Hutchesson laughs. “Focus on the footy.”