When Fremantle’s new draftees arrived in Perth, their first task wasn’t a meeting with coaches or training of any sort.
Instead, Griffin Logue, Sean Darcy, Brennan Cox and Luke Ryan came straight off the plane and headed to Aaron Sandilands’ house for a barbeque.
General manager of list management Brad Lloyd said it was heartening to see Sandilands and teammates Tommy Sheridan, Lachie Weller, Ed Langdon and Lee Spurr get together to welcome the new draftees.
“They’ve had a great introduction to the club,” Lloyd said.
“(Sandilands) really welcomed them to the club and to the State, which is great from Aaron and (wife) Jenny, and great from the other players who were there too.”
Darcy, a prospective ruckman, has lucked out to become a temporary member of the Sandilands’ household as he settles in with the club.
It was just another round of exciting news after realising his AFL dream on Friday night at the National Draft.
“I couldn’t believe it, I was stoked when I was told I was living with ‘Sandi’ for the next month,” Darcy said.
“I’m really looking forward to picking his brains.”
“He’s just been so good for so long, and I’ve watched him for so long too…so now I’m here I’m going to pick his brains as much as possible.”
After juggling his time between playing for his boarding school Xavier College in Melbourne and for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup, Darcy is looking forward to staying in one place.
“It’s been pretty interrupted, playing in two different football clubs that are far away,” Darcy said.
“But you’ve got to travel living up in the country, so travel becomes natural.”
South Australian draftee Brennan Cox is staying with fellow South Aussie Lachie Neale, and is already learning from the 2016 Doig Medallist.
“I’ve moved in with Lachie Neale for the next three weeks,” Cox said.
“I’ve spoken to him about what the AFL standard is like, and he said it’s hard work. You’ve got to do those little bits to just stay ahead of the other players in the AFL.”
Half-back prospect Luke Ryan came to the club with Freo’s final pick at No.66.
Despite juggling his football with his work as an apprentice carpenter, Ryan hopes to continue the craft still as he settles into life in the AFL.
“It was hard getting up at around five or six o’clock every day, some days working overtime and going straight to training,” Ryan said.
“I was physically and mentally tired, so it was pretty hard.
“I’ll sort it all out but I’ll probably do (carpentry) one or twice a week so I’ve got something else, and I’m qualified whenever I’m done with footy.”
Ryan laughed at a tongue-in-cheek suggestion from the media that a renovation of Ross Lyon’s house might help break into the side, but the 20-year-old isn’t shying away from what’s ahead of him.
“I’m happy with moving over to Perth,” Ryan said.
“It’s a bit of change to move away from home. It’s taking me out of my comfort zone and, hopefully, it helps improve and become a better football and a better person.”
Headlining the group at pick 8, Griffin Logue won't need to move too far from his life with Swan Districts in the WAFL.
“Staying home is just as good as going away, but I’m just happy that I get to stay with my family and friends really,” Logue said.
While Logue will remain at home for the time being, he’s not going to hold back when leaning on his teammates for advice.
“I just admire everyone that’s made it onto the list. Anyone with the slightest bit of experience has much more experience than myself,” Logue said.
“I’m just going to pick the brains of pretty much everyone. I’ll probably be a bit annoying I reckon!”
