In what many are calling the most heartwarming moment of the 2024 AFL draft, a family dog nearly stole the show during one recruit's celebration. The emotional night at Marvel Stadium saw future stars discover their AFL futures, but it was an enthusiastic canine that captured hearts nationwide.
Canine Celebration Goes Viral
New GWS Giants defender Oskar Taylor experienced the moment of a lifetime when his name was called as pick No.15 on Wednesday night. The Eastern Ranges product was immediately swarmed by excited family and friends in a chaotic celebration. Footage of the moment shows Taylor at the bottom of a happy pile before his dog decided to join the action, standing on two legs to be part of the special moment.
The heartwarming scene was one of several emotional reactions that punctuated the draft's first round. Similar celebrations occurred for fellow first-round selections Lachy Dovaston and Harry Dean, though none featured quite the same four-legged enthusiasm.
Indigenous Legacy Continues at Pick 12
One of the night's biggest surprises came when Melbourne selected mature-aged bolter Latrelle Pickett at pick 12. The selection continues what AFL draft guru Kevin Sheehan calls "the Indigenous pick" - a number that has produced remarkable Indigenous talent over the years.
The No.12 pick has previously selected football royalty including Gavin Wanganeen, Shaun Burgoyne, Cyril Rioli, Jy Simpkin and Kysaiah Pickett. Between them, these Indigenous stars boast impressive achievements including a Brownlow Medal, Norm Smith Medal, multiple club captaincies, premierships and more than 1000 AFL games.
Latrelle Pickett, who is cousins with Kysaiah, was stunned when his relative emerged from hiding to present his Melbourne guernsey. The Demons had concealed Kysaiah inside Marvel Stadium to prevent rival clubs from guessing their draft strategy.
"That was pretty crazy. I had no clue he was hiding back there," Pickett said after the emotional presentation. "I heard he was presenting the guernsey and I was, 'what? did they say it right?' ... I was pretty happy."
West Coast's Dynamic Duo
At the top of the draft, Willem Duursma embraced his new role as West Coast's number one selection. The 18-year-old Gippsland Power product is already relishing the prospect of partnering with 2023 top pick Harley Reid to supercharge the Eagles' rebuild.
Duursma displayed plenty of confidence when discussing his future partnership with Reid, quipping "If I'm Batman" when asked about their potential dynamic. The pair shared a memorable hug on stage after Reid presented Duursma with his first Eagles jumper.
Coming off a horror one-win season under coach Andrew McQualter, West Coast significantly bolstered their young talent stocks with high-end picks Duursma, Cooper Duff-Tytler at pick four, and Josh Lindsay at pick 19.
The new Eagles recruit suggested he and Reid could become housemates when he moves to Perth, with the established star set to play an important mentoring role. "We'll complement each other really well," Duursma said. "He gets his hands dirty under there and I'll help him on the outside a fair bit. The sky's the limit, I think."
The draft's first round also saw Gold Coast match a bid for academy product Zeke Uwland, while Carlton secured father-son prospect Harry Dean.
