In the countdown to the 2015 National Draft, we discuss the whole draft experience with Richmond’s five 2014 pick-ups. First-up, it’s Reece McKenzie.

The lead-up to the draft
“It was exciting, just the prospect of being at an AFL club, but it was also very nerve-wracking. During the year there was a lot of pressure on me to perform, but that comes with being a footballer. I remember being at a friend’s house waiting for my name to get read out. It was a massive relief.”

The reaction to being drafted
“When I heard my name get called out, I told myself I wouldn’t do this, but I just burst out into tears. All my friends were just ecstatic. It was a very emotional time. It’s probably my greatest memory.”

The first memories of Tigerland
“Meeting Jack Riewoldt, a couple of days after the draft, meeting Dimma, and my fellow draftees as well was pretty exciting, to see we were all coming to this club to make it better.”

Pre-season camp in Townsville
“We were pretty much thrown into the pre-season camp, which was a massive eye-opener. Just the competitiveness of the boys at training, the absolute want to get better, came within the players who were pushing each other.”

First year in the AFL
“It’s definitely a roller-coaster. There are ups and downs. It’s about learning and adapting to be able to deal with those downs, and pushing through it.”