KYLE MARSHALL had all but given up hope of hearing his name called out on the second night of the NAB AFL National Draft on Tuesday night. As clubs started passing on selections, he had settled on the couch under his blanket and was preparing to nod off.
That all changed when Port Adelaide recruiting manager Geoff Parker phoned him as the club approached its final pick and what turned out to be the last of the draft.
With the five minute countdown until pick 59 had to be lodged with the AFL, Parker told Marshall he hoped he was tuned into the television and to make sure his parents were as well.
Needless to say the 201cm defender was awake after that, admitting he struggled to sleep on Tuesday night ahead of his first day as a Port Adelaide player.
“(My emotions) were crazy,” Marshall recalled after a quick tour around Alberton on Wednesday morning. “I didn’t have much expectation going into the night. I was just chilling on the couch with mum and dad and just saw the late picks and had my fingers crossed.
“It’s got to be one of the best things of your life. You don’t even know what’s going to happen, then Geoff (Parker) the recruiting manager called me and said ‘we’re going to take you’ and that was just crazy.
“Then I saw the pick go in and they said my name and you just get all excited. I think mum and dad were going a bit crazy and I was loving the moment. Within about ten minutes all my mates just rocked up out of nowhere and were congratulating me so it was a pretty good experience, I can tell you that.”
Marshall had spoken to Port Adelaide’s recruiting team last week but had little indication of the club’s interest.
It didn’t bother him that his name was the last called, especially knowing he’d be joining South Australian teammate Tom Scully at Alberton.
“I was all over the place. As soon as it was going down the draft, I was losing hope but I saw Port had that pick and when a few clubs were skipping I wasn’t too sure,” Marshall explained.
“I was just laying with the blanket on, possibly about to fall asleep because we were getting to the end of the draft.
“Then I got the call and was like ‘holy hell, this is crazy’.
“I’m not sure whether being last is a good thing, but (for me) it’s good for sure.”
Once his name was called, his phone started running hot, first hearing from coach Ken Hinkley and captain Tom Jonas, before the device froze and he had to shut it off.
The coach had a simple message for the 84kg big man.
“My phone froze for about two hours after hearing from Ken (Hinkley) and Tom (Jonas). It was pretty surreal. I had to put the phone down and then message all the boys back this morning so I didn’t leave it long before I saw them here,” Marshall explained.
“I’ve still got a few more messages to send out.
“Ken just introduced me to the club. He said ‘you’re going to enjoy it’ and just said I had to put on about 15kgs, so I said ‘yeah cheers for that’ but it’s going to have to happen so just a lot of hard work over the pre-season.
“More protein, more carbs, just more of everything because I’m going to need it, even a bit of cheeky KFC.”
Marshall was among the more impressive performers in the South Australian State Draft Combine last month, finishing in the top five in five of the six tests.
With a long reach and impressive closing speed, Marshall played 15 games in the backline for South Adelaide’s under 18s in 2022, averaging 13 disposals and four marks.
He was also a South Australian under 18 team mate of Scully’s at this year’s National Championship in June and July and played against Scully over the last couple of years in the SANFL under 18 competition.
“I like to say I’m tall, athletic and versatile,” Marshall said when asked to describe himself. “Obviously I’m a bit on the leaner side with not much muscle about me so I’ll have to put on a bit of weight in the next couple of years.
“I’d say my speed (is good) and I’ve got to work on some key areas.”
Marshall and Scully will be joined by fellow draftee Tom McCallum at their first training session on Friday.
