Nick Coffield’s welcome to the AFL comes with 5am wake-up calls and the occasional spew

NICK Coffield is living the dream but it comes with a 5am wake-up call and the occasional spew at work after the St Kilda draftee completed his first week of an AFL pre-season.

Nick Coffield is greeted by St Kilda coach Alan Richardson after being drafted.

WELCOME to the AFL, young fella.

Nick Coffield is living the dream but it comes with a 5am wake-up call and the occasional spew at work.

The No.8 draft pick is just getting a taste of an AFL pre-season after arriving at the Saints alongside fellow new faces Hunter Clark, Oscar Clavarino and Ben Paton.

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After completing his first week, the defender with leadership qualities is just trying to enjoy the experience.

“It’s been pretty challenging. As first years we’ve been pretty light on for the work, but the conditioning is pretty hard,” Coffield told the club website.

“I know on my first day I did spew up because of the work.

St Kilda draftees (from left) Hunter Clark, Nick Coffield, Oscar Clavarino and Ben Paton with coach Alan Richardson. Picture: Tony Gough

“Living out in Eltham it takes me about an hour to get out here so I’m getting up at about 5:15 so it’s long days and I pretty much crash the second I get home, but I’m loving it.

“It was an awesome week and it flew past. A lot of the boys have said your first year will go pretty fast, so I’m just trying to take everything in and enjoy it.”

The 18-year-old won All-Australian honours this year after representing Vic Metro in the under-18 national championships and is already eyeing off an AFL debut in 2018.

Like any first-year player improve his fitness is a key area for Coffield with ambitions of playing midfield in the future.

“(My goal over the pre-season is) to improve my fitness,” he said.

“If I want to play in the midfield that’s got to improve a fair bit, but I’m probably in the best shape I’ve been in my life so that’s a positive.

“And then just to play, I want to get straight into next year, so hopefully I can crack the firsts.”