Christian Moraes could barely contain his emotion when his name was called on the second night of the Telstra AFL National Draft. 

In a wholesome moment, the 18-year-old showed pure elation – and a few tears – on the Fox Footy Draft coverage, surrounded by family and friends at home as his AFL dream came true.  

Waiting a little longer than he had initially hoped, it was the 11th pick of the night (38 overall) when it was announced Moraes was becoming a Port Adelaide player. 

“To be honest, I thought I might have been a chance to go a few picks earlier so when those few picks happen, you start to get a bit worried and think the worst,” Moraes told club media at his home on Thursday night. 

“So, when Port picked me, I was just so happy to get to a club with a great culture, great fan base, I’m just so keen. I want to get cracking in. I think I fly out on Sunday so I’m counting down the days, it will be amazing.” 

Former Power player, turned head of player welfare Paul Stewart made the trek to Moraes’ suburban Melbourne home late Thursday night to present him with his first Port Adelaide guernsey and meet the family, including proud mum Nicki. 

It wasn’t long after arriving that someone seized their moment and blasted Never Tear Us Apart over the speakers in the lounge room – a song that Moraes will soon become very familiar with. 

“It’s unreal,” Moraes said. 

“It’s a long night but to go to such a great club like Port, some of my heroes play there, and they’ve got such a great fanbase. Their fans really care and that’s probably the thing I most wanted in wherever I went, just a fan base that cares and a club that wants to win and cares.  

“I’m so stoked, I can’t even explain it with words, to be honest.” 

Identified as a player with endurance, good footy IQ and forward craft, Moraes joins the Power from Eastern Ranges. 

Port Adelaide National Recruiting Manager Geoff Parker has been impressed with Moraes’ year in football, despite the young gun doubting himself at times. 

“We’ve interviewed Christian a couple of times – interviewed him at the Combine and he seemed really disappointed with his season, he had high expectations of himself,” Parker said. 

“I looked at him and said ‘Christian, you’ve actually had a really good, really consistent year, your possession rate’s high and you’re hitting the scoreboard, so it’s actually been a good year’. He sets high standards, but I thought he was very consistent across the whole season. 

“He covers the ground reasonably well and I think he’s got really good football IQ. His stoppage craft (is great), he’s got clean hands but he’s also got the smarts to spit out into space to receive and can go forward. He’s got some good forward craft (too).” 

Not unlike many of his peers, Moraes admires the way Zak Butters plays, and hopes to emulate some of the two-time All-Australian’s on-field qualities. 

“Oh yeah he’s a jet isn’t he?” Moraes said, reflecting on Butters. 

“Just runs all day, runs and carries. Has that much confidence in himself to break lines and just be so damaging, so to be able to learn off him and get to talk to him, it’s just bloody amazing isn’t it.” 

The move to a new state doesn’t worry Moraes, as he prepares to join fellow interstate draftees Joe Berry and Jack Whitlock in Adelaide next week. 

“I’m keen, I’ve been to Adelaide before, it’s a good place,” he said. 

“Obviously the next month of my life is more going to be about the footy. Just so pumped to get into the club.”