ALL Angus Schumacher was hoping for on Friday night was to hear his name called out at the AFL National Draft – it didn’t matter by who.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The fact it was Carlton that called his name made it all the more special for the 18-year-old.
Schumacher has been a Carlton supporter since his uncle, Bronte, brought him a Blues jumper as a youngster.
But on Friday night Schumacher went from Carlton supporter to Carlton player when the Blues took the Bendigo Pioneer with selection No. 70.
“It’s just unbelievable and still doesn’t seem real,” Schumacher said on Saturday morning.
“I just wanted to get drafted, but for it to happen with Carlton… it’s just a dream come true.
“My uncle bribed me with a couple of Carlton jumpers back when I was young and since then I’ve been on the Blues bandwagon.”
Schumacher’s favourite Blue is Patrick Cripps and he admits to being somewhat starstruck when he received a call from his new team-mate on Saturday morning, while he has already twice spoken with coach Brendan Bolton ahead of his first training session on Monday.
Schumacher – who met with the Blues during the Draft Combine – and his family moved from South Australia to Strathfieldsaye when he was 12.
He played junior football with Strathfieldsaye, as well as getting his first taste of senior football with the Storm last year.
The left-footer has spent the past two seasons with the Bendigo Pioneers, where he was vice-captain this year, finished third in the best and fairest playing a mix of midfield and defence and was a Vic Country representative at the Under-18 National Championships.
He’s one of three Bendigo Pioneers drafted by Carlton, with the Blues using their first two selections on midfielders Paddy Dow (No.3) and Lochie O’Brien (No.10).
“It’s going to make it a lot easier going down there initially already knowing those boys, and I also know Tom De Koning (No.30) from playing Vic Country with him.”
Schumacher has been working as a labourer with Simon Rosa Landscaping since April, and while he has enjoyed that job, he’s now looking forward to swapping the tools for full-time football.
While the enormity of being drafted was still sinking in for Schumacher on Saturday, so too was it for his parents, Stephen and Gini.
“It got a bit stressful waiting to see if it would happen, but the house went off when it did,” Gini said.
As well as the three players drafted to Carlton, the Pioneers also had Jarrod Brander (West Coast, No.13), Brent Daniels (GWS Giants, No.27) and Kane Farrell (Port Adelaide, No.51) selected.