Sam Draper only started playing football this year.

He’d spent his youth exploring a variety of other sports, including soccer.

But in February this year the 203cm teenager decided to give Aussie Rules a crack.

He commenced training with the Reynella Wineflies in South Australia.  By April SANFL Club South Adelaide had seen enough to invite him down and seven months later his name was read out with the first pick in the Rookie Draft.

“I couldn’t believe it at first.  It just didn’t seem real,” Draper said.

“Dad was in the same room as me listening to the phone call and he just started crying, so that made me start tearing up.

“I was not expecting it at all.

“I spoke to a few clubs but then I got told it wasn’t really going to happen this year – I’d have to stay at South (Adelaide) and then try for next year.

“That’s why it was so shocking to get that call on Monday afternoon.”

Draper was initially used at centre half back this season as he learned the running patterns of his new sport.

“I was pretty nervous at first.  It’s hard to know where to go.  I started at centre half back to try to ease me into it, then go into the ruck after a few games,” he said.

“The trickiest thing was knowing where to run, but in the second half of the season everything started working, I found some form and played some good footy.”

Draper got straight down to work this week, joining his new teammates on their pre-season camp.

“It has been a pretty hectic few days.  My flight was at 6:30 in the morning on Wednesday and then I got straight into it,” he said.

“I was really nervous before I got here, but once I met a few of the boys and they introduced themselves I just felt right at home."

Draper will spend the pre-season working alongside Matthew Leuenberger, Tom Bellchambers and Ruck Coach Mark Jamar.

“I just want to try to soak in as much as I can from those boys, they’re experienced players and I’ve got a lot to learn,” Draper said.

“I’ll be ready to do the extra work.”