Port Adelaide draftees Jack Whitlock and Christian Moraes have shared their excitement on day three at their new AFL club.
The pair both moved from Victoria on Sunday after being picked up in the Telstra AFL National Draft last week, with both hitting the ground running at Alberton.
Whitlock and Moraes spoke to the Adelaide media on Wednesday to talk about the thrill of the Draft, getting to know their fellow draftees, and how they’ve fared through the first week of training.
Whitlock on the first three days at the club
“Oh, it's unreal, pretty much everything you expected, and more. Especially with the facilities and how well, like all the boys, get around you. Monday, the first day was a pretty hard day, which I loved. And yeah, it was just unreal to get around the facilities and just meet all the new people and all the people at the club.
“Definitely professionalism (is important here and) getting that right from the start, not waiting for one to two years down the track, just really nailing down on all the little things. That's probably the main thing I've taken out of the week.”
Whitlock on meeting his teammates
“Well, at the moment, it's just one to four years, but (I’ve met) Connor Rozee and Zak Butters. Definitely pretty surreal to meet them and then also be out on the same track as them, which is a pretty cool experience.
Whitlock on getting to know Ken Hinkley
“He's a great fella. Had dinner with him last night up in the hills, and then he also came around on Sunday. Yeah, great fella, a really good one. We got Pasta Go Go on Sunday, which is pretty nice. And then he actually took us out last night, all the coaches and us draftees, that was nice.”
Whitlock on his first day
“I wasn't actually too nervous. Feel like a lot of people were nervous, but no, I was just kind of excited. It's good. I already have a pretty good connection with the other draftees after seeing them for a couple days. Obviously, Joe Berry, (I already) had a pretty good relationship with him, so it's good to fall back on that. I was just more excited than anything.”
Whitlock on already being mates with Joe Berry
“Oh, yeah, especially moving interstate, having someone from the same roots as you always makes it a lot smoother. But yeah, it's been good.”
Whitlock on the sort of player he is
“Yeah, definitely, just those athletic key forwards. I like to take big marks, and then I also feel like I'm pretty good by foot and below my knees, pretty mobile and agile for someone 200 centimetres (tall).
Whitlock on Todd Marshall
“Yeah definitely (keen to learn from him). He's a Murray Bushrangers boy too. So we get along in that respect. But yeah, definitely have spoken to him a couple times.”
Whitlock on getting drafted after his twin brother Matt
“Nah, no banter, we get along pretty well, just more happy for each other than anything and we're both at good clubs. I think every moment in the backyard you sort of want to beat him and to play against him on the big stage would be pretty cool.”
Moraes on his first three days at the club
“Oh, it's been that good. I've loved every minute of it, from draft night to now, like, it’s just that sick getting to train with players you've been watching all your life. So, yeah, it's pretty sick.
“Honestly, all of them (have been so cool to meet), especially the ones that played at the end of last year. Obviously, I’m a big footy fan, so I watched the whole final series. Even just Buttsy, Rozee and Bergman and all those boys, they all get around you really great. And like, you don't feel like a first year player now, it feels like I've been here for months already because already, because everyone just gets around you.”
Moraes on his goals for next year
“I'll give it everything. I'll try to give back to Port as best I can. They've obviously given me an opportunity, so I'd love to repay that. Hopefully getting in the side is my main goal and just be able to impact at AFL level for them, but if I end up playing SANFL just giving everything to them.”
Moraes on the sort of player he is
“Well, I think using my pace to break lines, my running power is probably my main strength, using my hands and my vision to open the play up as well and release others. I'd say that's probably the main two things I think I can add to this side.”
Moraes on his fellow draftees
“Yeah, we got pretty close over the last few days, especially, we’ve all been living at the same joint and in Glenelg. It’s a pretty good house, it’s got a nice pool. It's that good. I spent some time with Whitters (Whitlock) through the AFL Academy. Hadn't met Joe (Berry) yet, but glad I did now, like they're all great fellas. Even Benny (Barrett) and (Tom) Cochrane, they're both just good kids. We play pool together every night pretty much. So, yeah, it's been really fun. I think I'm moving somewhere else on Thursday, and we'll all move in with players, but I'm sure we’ll stay catching up heaps.”
Moraes on being picked up by Port Adelaide
“It wasn't necessarily living in South Australia is more the club that I'm playing for, like Port’s so deep in tradition, I'm pretty sure they're one of the oldest clubs going around, 150 odd years. Their fans really care. And that was the most important thing for me when going to a club, I want to play for a team that the fans care and the club wants to win, and they're pretty close to doing it as well. They made a prelim the last few years. So hopefully they can go that couple of steps further, and I can help be a part of it.”
Moraes on going to the AFLW prelim on the weekend
“Yeah, I went to the AFLW game, it was Saturday. Unfortunately, that didn't get up, but it's good to get around them. And they had a pretty good season, from all I've heard.”
Moraes on becoming a “Port man”
“To be honest it happened pretty quick. I was a Sydney fan before this, but I haven't thought about them since I was drafted so that’s a pretty good thing! Probably ever since the Port people got to my house and I put on the jersey, I've been so welcomed by the boys and the wider community, but even people sending me messages on Instagram, like the fans and stuff, all that stuff, I love it. Just makes you feel really appreciated, and I've loved it here so far.”
