If you’d asked virtually any pundit, anyone who gets paid to track the next generation of AFL talent as closely as possible, then hardly a soul would have confidently predicted hearing Shepparton United junior Oscar Ryan’s name called out on night one of the AFL National Draft.
But Ryan remained ever-hopeful.
As the AFL draft bore witness to its largest first round ever, with 29 selections made on opening night amidst a flurry of Academy and father-son bids, Ryan certainly had long enough to wait.
Then came the moment when the 18-year-old Murray Bushrangers defender received mere moments of advance notice that he would realise his dream with Adelaide at pick 27.
What followed next were heart-warming scenes as a shocked Ryan came to terms with being drafted.
“I was sitting with Connor (O’Sullivan, taken at pick 11), and I knew I was a chance probably around the 25-26 mark,” the Shepparton United talent said.
“The coach tapped me on the shoulder two minutes before and I can’t remember what he said; it’s all a blur.
“I was trying to take it all in and enjoy the moment, so I didn’t touch my phone.
“Mum and Dad were sitting back home watching on TV and almost turned it off, but luckily they didn’t.”
Without being tied somewhere through either a NGA program or father-son links, it’s harder than ever to analyse which club may swoop on any given youngster outside of the top two or three.
Of course, recruiting panels can still advise potential draftees of a keen interest through interviews and the Combine, though.
Ryan was unfazed by the prospect of moving to South Australia and, why would you be, when another Shepparton export in promising forward Josh Rachele ― taken with the sixth selection in 2021 ― is already waiting there?
“Adelaide was the first team who made contact with me about midway through the season, so I sort of wanted to go there,” Ryan said.
“I know Josh and I’m friends with his little brother and some of the Bushies boys.
“I woke up the next morning and thought it was all a dream, but I was still wearing the Adelaide shirt, so I realised it had actually happened.
“I’m keen to get stuck into it, but I’m taking it all in.”
It’s a good night when you go from primarily attending as support for O’Sullivan to waking up and speaking to media with national audiences in a Crows polo the following day.
After all, even presuming Ryan would be selected in the 25-26 range as he predicted, such a selection would have been closer to an end-of-second-round pick just a few short years ago.
The real work kicks in from this point forth, though.
“I had to go through all the media stuff, which was really cool because everyone wants to talk to you,” Ryan said.
“I had to get told what to say and what not to say, which was a cool experience.
“I’m flying in Friday morning and I’ll be with a host family after the Christmas break.
“I’m very grateful and keen to get started.”