With those words Geelong Football Club recruiting manager Stephen Wells made Maree and Bryce Selwood the most relieved parents in Australia.

They were granted their wish on Saturday morning when Joel was selected by a Victorian club in the AFL National Draft.

With older brothers Troy (Brisbane) and Adam (West Coast) already on either side of the country, the last thing Maree and Bryce wanted was Joel to be picked up by an interstate club.

Listening to the draft on radio, an eerie hush fell over the Sellwood house when Port Adelaide made its choice at selection five.

"You could cut the air with a knife at the stage," Maree said.

"That (Port Adelaide) was the one club we didn't want Joel to go to.

"Once he wasn't picked up by Port we had a good idea he'd be staying in Victoria."

About a minute later, excitement replaced relief as Joel was picked with selection seven by the club he has barracked for from a young age - the Cats.

"I'm rapt. Everything's worked out really well," Joel said.

"Troy got the chance to play for the team he barracked for and now so have I."

Despite being a certain draftee, Selwood admitted he was nervous in the lead-up to draft day.

"I didn't sleep well at all last night," he said.

"It was good to have family and friends around me this morning.

"I felt a bit ill as the draft started... particularly when Brisbane and Port had their choices."

Selwood, who spent a week training with Geelong in 2005, said Cats star Cameron Ling was one of the first to congratulate him.

After a season hampered by a knee injury, Selwood can't wait to start his AFL career.

"It's been a long year and it's been frustrating at times, but everything has sorted out well," Joel said.

"I'm feeling really fit, the knee is really good and I can't wait for pre-season training."

AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan described Selwood as a "gift to Geelong" at number seven.

"He would have been right up there with Marc Murphy (last year's number one choice) had he been in last year's draft, based on what we saw last year - All-Australian mid-year, captained the Australian under-17 side against the Irish and dominated," Sheehan said.

Weekends in 2007 are going to be extra busy for Maree and Bryce.

As well as three AFL games to watch, they'll also have youngest son Scott playing with the Bendigo Pioneers.

"I think we'll say goodbye to each other on a Friday night and we'll go off and watch two games each and then see each other again on Sunday," Maree said.