IT WAS a hot first day at Port Adelaide training for the club’s newest recruits, especially for defender Tom McCallum who is bracing for the warmest pre-season he has ever had.

The Tasmanian was Port Adelaide’s first selection at pick 36 in Tuesday night’s AFL National Draft and arrived in Adelaide on Thursday afternoon.

Speaking after his first training session on a warm Friday at Alberton Oval, McCallum said he’d already found some similarities and differences between Adelaide and his home state.

“I got off the plane in a jumper and I thought I better take that off straight away so that was one big (difference). It’s meant to be very warm over the next couple of days compared to Tassie so the weather is a massive one.

“I was even sweating just doing a bit of running on the side. But it’ll be real fun. A real good experience.”

New draftees Tom Scully, Kyle Marshall and Nathan Barkla joined McCallum at an open training session in front of a hundred or so supporters.

McCallum’s was a slightly different first experience to the others. Recovering from an ankle injury, he was eased into training, doing some running but not participating in full contact drills.

The 18-year-old athletic backman injured his ankle playing in a preliminary final for the Tasmania Devils and admitted having “a bit of a scare” about it impacting his prospects of being drafted.

“I ruptured a ligament and half ruptured another one in the preliminary final, landing on the goal umpire’s foot so it’s taken a while to get it right but I’ll be back in a few weeks,” McCallum said.

“I didn’t even want to look at (the umpire) after that. I tried to keep playing but had to go off for the rest of the game.

“It was the last game of the season so I thought if I was going to get picked, I’d hopefully done enough but obviously I missed out on the (draft) combine, which would have been one of my strengths – my athletic ability. It was a bit of a scare but overall, I wasn’t too worried.”

At 192cm, McCallum is renowned for his burst of speed, running capacity and ability to play on either tall or small forwards.

Playing for the Allies in the under 18 National Championship he averaged 17 disposals and caught the eye of recruiters across the competition, although he didn’t realise the extent of Port Adelaide’s interest.

“I actually had no idea they were definitely going to take me. I spoke to them at the combine but when I heard my name get read out, I was a bit surprised,” McCallum explained.

“I knew they had a bit of interest but I had no idea they’d take me with their first pick.

“I didn’t get up and about like a few of the other boys. The head was back, just real relieved I guess but mum and dad were real proud of me and excited, and the same for my two brothers.

“I know the amount of success, particularly in the SANFL with over 30 premierships and been around for 150-odd years so I knew a little bit about (the club) but I’m keen to learn more.”

For now, McCallum is expecting to get back into full training after Christmas.

He is eager to work and learn from backline coach Nathan Bassett and is hoping an AFL debut won’t be too far away.

“I know it’ll be a very hard backline to get into but if I keep showing my strengths and earn the respect of my teammates and everyone else, then hopefully I can jump in later in the year,” he said.

“I just need to earn the respect of my teammates, put my best foot forward, and get myself in the best shape possible to go to the next level.”