PORT ADELAIDE’S newest draftee Mitchell Georgiades was left speechless when his name was read out at pick 18 in the 2019 NAB AFL National Draft.

Georgiades received a phone call from senior coach Ken Hinkley only minutes prior to his selection, and the 18-year-old said he couldn’t contain his excitement.

“I was just sitting around watching the coverage and I wasn’t really expecting too much,” Georgiades told portadelaidefc.com.au on Thursday afternoon.

“My phone started ringing and I thought I’d better answer it - it was Ken Hinkley on the other end of the line.

“I was just absolutely lost for words. He told me they were about to read my name out and that I was now a Port Adelaide player.

“I honestly couldn’t believe it was happening. I couldn’t sit still - I was just running around the house. I was so excited.”

The forward said he couldn’t wait to get to the club and learn more about the history and tradition at Alberton.

“I am absolutely stoked - I’ve heard so much about the history,” Georgiades said.

“I have seen how much it has dominated the SANFL over the years then built up into the AFL.

“I am so excited to be a part of the 150^th year celebrations - it’s going to be pretty special.

“I can’t wait to be a part of such a historic club.”

The Subiaco product said he loved watching Robbie Gray when he was growing up, and couldn’t wait to start training with Port’s exciting young list.

“Dad and I have always really loved watching Robbie Gray play, we think he is just an absolute jet,” Georgiades.

“All of the young guys over there like Connor Rozee, Xavier Duursma and Zak Butters - it will be pretty special to play around them,

“I’m also looking forward to training and hopefully playing with the likes of Travis Boak and the other big names.

“It’s such an exciting list and I can’t wait to start training alongside those guys.”

Georgiades spent some time playing with Taj Schofield - son of assistant coach Jarrad - and said it was great to have Jarrad Schofield coaching the seniors during his time at Subiaco.

“I played a bit of footy with Taj Schofield growing up through the Subi ranks,” he said.

“Obviously, Jarrad (Schofield) was the senior coach there. I didn’t have a lot to do with Jarrad first hand, but he was always around and I saw him a fair bit.

“I’m really excited to have a familiar face over there, which will be really good to see.”

The talented right-footer had a different under 18s year to every other draft hopeful after suffering a gruesome quad injury in 2018, but Georgiades didn’t let that stop him from training hard a realising his dream of playing AFL football.

“It was pretty tough early on in the year,” he said.

“In potentially the most important year for my footy I was watching the year go by. To miss out on that was pretty heartbreaking at the time.

“I realised I had to get over it because there was nothing I could do about it. I focussed on what I could do and not what I couldn’t do.

“I kept the mindset at training that I was going to get back and play this year and really push myself at training.

“I got back to full strength and full training, and to get drafted makes all the hard work worthwhile.

“All I’ve wanted to do is play AFL football and I just can’t wait to get started.”

Georgiades joined Miles Bergman at Port Adelaide on Wednesday night, while the Power will enter the remainder of the draft with picks 22, 55, 60, 61 and 83.