THEY called him "Brian". The Monty Python moment in the misread of Brynn Teakle's name during the AFL mid-season rookie draft on Wednesday night made the 22-year-old East Fremantle ruckman-forward think for a moment his AFL dream had again slipped away.
"There was no guarantee I would be drafted and I was nervous as," Teakle recalls of the moment sitting in his manager's loungeroom in Perth watching the draft unfold. "When No. 8 came and they called out 'Brian', I thought 'Who is Brian?'
"I've always had Brian growing up ...
"I'm glad they corrected it."
The response from Alberton - from both the AFL and AFLW squads - since Teakle was confirmed as Port Adelaide's lone pick at No. 8 has the West Australian convinced he is the man list manager Jason Cripps and recruiting boss Geoff Parker always wanted at Alberton.
Senior coach Ken Hinkley's advice to Teakle also suggests the dream halted at Essendon in 2020 - during the COVID lockdown - will play out very quickly at Port Adelaide.
"Ken was one the first on the phone that was going crazy," Teakle said. "He is a top bloke. He said, 'When you come over, make sure you are aggressive and ready to go because there is an opportunity ahead of you. if you hit the ground running, you can make the most of it'."
There is no doubt Port Adelaide found its man at pick No. 8.
"Port Adelaide was the main one," Teakle said of the pre-draft interest he garnered from the 18 AFL clubs. "They spoke to me a fair bit over the past couple of weeks. Also Hawthorn spoke to me twice and Collingwood."
Teakle stands at 203 centimetres - 6 foot eight in the old language - and he certainly can take a strong mark, not only using his height to advantage but also his 99-kilogram frame to frustrate his opponents in a marking contest.
He can kick, quite nicely from the set shot at goal that might lead to the question of whether he becomes more of a forward than a ruckman in the style of Hawthorn and Essendon great Paul Salmon.
"Obviously playing forward a fair bit in juniors has given me that natural ability to kick goals," Teakle said. "I have been doing some work with Richie Smith, a golf coach who has come to East Fremantle. He has coached me on working to a routine - how important routine is.
"I did a lot of work in the pre-season and Richie has improved my confidence in goalkicking drastically."
Parker has noted the strength of Teakle's work as a versatile player.
"His ruck craft has developed really well," Parker said of Teakle who trialled with Essendon in the 2020 pre-season.
"He hunts the ball well at ground level and he can go forward, mark and kick a goal."
Teakle has - as Port Adelaide football chief Chris Davies declared of the club's intent with the mid-season rookie draft - all the hallmarks of a long-term player.
"I think I move pretty well for a big man," Teakle said. "I have put on a lot of size since I came back from Essendon - that was their advice: Live in the gym and work on building the body.
"I've put on six kilograms from last pre-season, so I am sitting around 99 kilograms at the moment and I want to get to 105 in the next one. But I still want to maintain that athleticism about my game.
"I was playing mostly ruck in the first two games (for East Fremantle in the WAFL league series). Then we got another ruckman in and they shifted me to play at centre half-forward. I absolutely love playing both roles.
"I know I am coming to a club with a rich history. It is an amazing club. Every player has messaged me and got around me - everyone, even the AFLW representatives. I have a lot of confidence going to the club. Everyone is really welcoming. I can't wait to meet everyone."
Teakle first nominated for the AFL draft on his first opportunity as an 18-year-old, missing out in three AFL national drafts. He stayed at Essendon for a month at the start of the 2020 pre-season before the pandemic ended the dream of playing for the club he had followed as a fan.
"I've worked my bum off to get the position where I am now (on the Port Adelaide AFL list)," Teakle said. "I am super excited someone has noticed and given me the opportunity to show what I have got.
"My confidence has definitely spiked (since returning from the Essendon cameo). Being a quiet, laid-back kid I have realised I needed to be more confident and be louder and back myself more in contests. And putting on more size has definitely helped me do that by being able to move and shift bodies. That has given me more confidence to compete. That is definitely one thing that has improved."
Teakle's sporting background includes - as to be expected for such a tall man - school basketball and the very West Australian sport of water polo.
"I am not much of a swimmer though," Teakle said. "I just used to doggy paddle .."
Teakle leaves Perth - to take up residence with Port Adelaide defender Dan Houston - with the expectation of being quickly followed to Adelaide by his grandparents.
"I am living with my sister at the moment; that will be the hardest (moment on leaving Perth) because I have always been around her," Teakle said. "My Nan and Pop are massive fans of mine. They come to every game, driving four hours most weekends to come watch me play in the WAFL.
"I won't be surprised if they buy a house in Adelaide or pitch at tent at Adelaide Oval. They will be there somewhere."
