MELBOURNE yesterday used its second-round pick in the AFL rookie draft to select Bendigo Pioneer and dual Eaglehawk premiership player Rhys Healey.Healey was taken by the Demons with pick 17 in the rookie draft and will join his new team-mates tomorrow for a training camp at Mansfield.Healey, who won the Pioneers’ goalkicking this year with 25, admits he was surprised to have been taken by the Demons considering the only club that had been in contact with him ahead of the draft had been Richmond.The 18-year-old last week played in a practice match at Victoria Park in front of the Richmond coaching staff.But when Healey, who will tonight graduate from Bendigo Senior Secondary College, received a phone call on Monday indicating Richmond was likely to overlook him at the rookie draft, he thought his hopes of being selected had gone.“It’s an unbelievable feeling; I had written myself off and didn’t really want to watch it on the Internet,” Healey said.“I can’t believe it, to be honest, because I hadn’t been in contact with Melbourne, whatsoever.”I just wanted to get an opportunity, but now the hard work starts.”Healey played all his junior football with Eaglehawk, starting as a nine-year-old in the under-12s.He worked his way up through the junior ranks at Canterbury Park, before joining the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup, where he played 36 games in 2007 and this year.This year he averaged 12.2 kicks, 7.5 handballs, 4.1 marks and 2.8 tackles per game, playing mainly as a midfielder and half-forward.“Rhys works hard on his game and is always looking to improve,” Pioneers coach Mark Ellis said.“He has got the opportunity now and he will make the most of it.“Rhys had a good season with us this year, particularly in the second half.“In those games where we beat two or three of the top sides towards the end of the year, he contributed really well.“It’s just terrific he has got his chance and the hard work now starts for him.”In his two years at the Pioneers, Healey also played six senior games for Eaglehawk in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football-Netball League.Two of his six games for the Hawks were grand final wins - 2007 against Gisborne and this year against Golden Square.Healey, also a talented athlete and cricketer, won the Nalder Medal in the 2007 grand final victory for best on ground.As a rookie at Melbourne, Healey will play in the VFL with the Demons’ new aligned club, Casey Scorpions, unless elevated on to the senior list and selected in Melbourne’s side. Former Bendigo Pioneer Toby Thoolan has been given a second chance by Collingwood.Thoolan, who was selected by the Magpies with pick 47 at last year’s national draft, was de-listed by Collingwood at the end of this year.However, Collingwood yesterday redrafted Thoolan, taking him with pick 56 in the rookie draft.