NEW Port Adelaide draftee Kane Farrell says relief is the biggest emotion he’s feeling to now know where his footballing future lies.
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Farrell, from Castlemaine, was one of six Bendigo Pioneer players selected at Friday night’s AFL National Draft, with the Power using pick No.51 on the left-footer.
“It’s a big relief to know what you’re going to be doing for the next few years,” Farrell said on Saturday.
“It has been hard where you will go down the street and see someone you know and all they want to talk about is footy, the draft and what is going to happen.
“But all you can do is tell people how it is and that is it isn’t up to me, it’s up to the recruiters and it was just a matter of waiting to see.
“It was a big surprise when it happened. I’ve grown up always wanting to play AFL and now I’ve got the opportunity, which is great.”
Farrell – who had been a Geelong supporter – first played football with the Winters Flat juniors from under-10s through to under-15s, before progressing to Castlemaine, while also playing under-15s, 16s and 18s with the Pioneers.
In recent years Farrell hasn’t had to look far for inspiration – Richmond superstar Dustin Martin has also followed a similar path of playing junior football in Castlemaine before going on to be drafted from the Pioneers in 2009.
“He was my brother’s (Brodie) best mate growing up and they used to kick around in the backyard and he’s definitely someone I look up to coming from the same town,” Farrell said.
“It has been great watching him progress and to see where he is now is just unbelievable, but it’s something you’ve obviously got to work hard for.”
Port Adelaide’s national recruiting manager Geoff Parker described Farrell as an elite left-foot kick who excites with his marking and line-breaking run.
“He showed he could go forward too in the second half of the TAC Cup season and that’s where he impressed us with his ability to get up and down the ground and use the ball cleanly,” Parker said.
Farrell’s dad Stephen didn’t waste any time swapping allegiances from Geelong to Port Adelaide, buying himself a new Power cap on Saturday morning.