BEING drafted by Port Adelaide came as a big surprise on Wednesday night for tall forward Ollie Lord but he was almost more caught off guard by a phone call from one of the club’s stars.
Lord was claimed with pick 49 at the NAB AFL National Draft as Port’s second and final selection of the evening after earlier snagging NGA talent Lachie Jones.
The 18-year-old watched the draft at home with his family and told Adelaide radio on Thursday morning it was a special moment to hear his name called out.
“The whole family lit up and it was a fantastic moment,” Lord said.
“There was no direct communication (from Port Adelaide) on the night or a few days prior.
“I had an interview with them about eight weeks ago, which I thought went well. Out of all the interviews I did, I thought it was definitely one of the better ones, just the interaction with the coaches and staff on the zoom.
“I’ve had a bit of a talk with (Port’s National Recruiting Manager Geoff Parker) through my dad so when my name was called last night, I was just stoked.”
Known for his high leaping, strong hands and athletic 195cm frame, Lord has not played a game of football since March because of COVID-19’s impact on local football in Victoria.
The Geelong Grammar and Sandringham Dragons product described being drafted as a dream come true.
“It’s pretty exciting. Just super stoked and pretty overwhelmed,” he said.
“I’ve already had plenty of calls and text messages from players and staff and I’m just so happy that my dream has come true.
“I had a quick text from Darcy Byrne-Jones, he was the first cab off the rank.
“Tom Rockliff called me this morning and it kind of caught me off guard. I was a bit star struck on the phone.
“It’ll take me a while to get back to all the calls and texts.”
The childhood Geelong supporter comes from rich football roots. His father Darren Lord was on Geelong’s list for two years and his Grandfather and Great Uncle Alistair and Stewart Lord were 1963 Premiership players.
Alistair was also the 1962 Brownlow Medallist and Ollie Lord described his grandfather as one of his biggest supporters.
“I come from a rich background with my grandpa playing for Geelong so I didn’t have a choice so I was lucky to barrack for them for 18 years and come from a die-hard family of Geelong supporters,” he explained.
“Pa was super stoked. He is one of my biggest supporters and he was very nervous in the lead up.
“Even yesterday he gave me a buzz on the phone and was a bit nervous but he is so proud of me.
“He’s been extremely helpful the last 24 or 36 months to put me in the position I am now so he’s very happy.”
Given his time boarding at Geelong Grammar, Lord is expecting to have no problem with the move to Adelaide.
And he already knows a bit about his new club.
“From an outsider looking in, it looks like they’re a really tight group,” he said.
“I know there’s lots of young players and extremely good leadership up the top.
“Port Adelaide celebrated 150 years and I think they’ve got 37 premierships so I’m extremely excited to be part of a club with such rich success.
“It just looks like a club heading in the right direction full of great people from an outsider looking in and I’m extremely grateful and excited to get into it.”
Lord is still finalising his travel plans but hopes to get to Adelaide over the weekend for at least a week of pre-season training before the Christmas break.
He was not expecting to play AFL football in 2021 but said he was excited to develop alongside the likes of Charlie Dixon in the Port forward line.
“I think I’m a player who will need a few years to develop but someone who has relatively strong hands and can mark the ball,” Lord explained.
“I fly for my grabs and I feel like my ability to compete at ground level for someone of my height is one of my strengths – following up and making good decisions is something I pride myself on.”
