NEW PORT Adelaide recruit Glenn Dawson unleashed a few deliveries at the Australian cricket team in the Adelaide Oval nets last week, but on Saturday, it was his turn to be bowled over.

Dawson, 17, had such little expectations of being picked up in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft that he decided to spend the morning playing golf before getting ready for his cousin’s afternoon wedding in Clare.

The Woodville-West Torrens junior had no idea he’d been drafted by the Power until a phone call from his manager gave the Dawson family even more reason to celebrate.

“I was out on the golf course and Reidy [manager Justin Reid] rang me and said, ‘you’ve been picked up’,” Dawson said.

“I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t really expecting to get picked up in the national draft; I had higher hopes for the rookie draft, and thought the national would be a bonus.

“I got a few more phone calls after that and then went back to finish my round.”

For Dawson, who pulled up stumps on a promising cricket career just a few weeks ago, the journey to an AFL list was a whirlwind one.

“I played A-grade for the Woodville District Cricket Club and I’ve played state cricket at U15, U17s and I was in the U19s squad this year,” Dawson said.

“I made the call about three-and-a-half weeks ago to give up the cricket and do a full footy pre-season… it might’ve paid off already.”

Even after retiring his whites, Dawson was called upon to bowl to the Australian and New Zealand cricket teams last week, as they prepared for the Adelaide test match.

And he had people questioning his decision to choose footy over cricket when he lined up Aussie star Mike Hussey and broke his bat.

“It was a good ball,” Dawson said with a laugh.

“I’m not too sure what he [Hussey] thought, but he said, ‘I think you just broke my bat; you might as well have it’. So he signed it and gave it to me.”

The high-flying forward earned the tag of ‘Smoky’ Dawson on draft day after being plucked from the Woodville-West Torrens U19s with Port Adelaide’s pick No.66.

Dawson, who also played several reserves games, booted 54 goals in 11 outings with the U19s including a return of 10.1 against the Port Adelaide Magpies in round 14.

He has been likened to Adelaide’s Brett Burton for his leap and athleticism.

And the Balaklava High School student also possesses great speed, having beaten out all of the 2008 NAB AFL Draft Camp invitees with a time of 2.75sec in the 20m-sprint at the South Australian state screening session.

Dawson, who was one of four South Australians selected by the Power on Saturday, said he was thrilled to share the day with Woodville-West Torrens teammates Matthew Broadbent and Jarrad Redden.

“It was a really good day for the club [Woodville West Torrens] and there will be a few familiar faces at Alberton,” he said.