AFL
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MAX King has crossed a lot of things off his to-do list in recent months but one point is sticking out in bold print play an AFL game.
King is within touching distance of achieving the childhood dream after he was yesterday rookie drafted to Melbourne with pick 19.
The Demons were quick on the phone to the 18-year-old and booked him on the next flight out of Wagga to begin life as a professional footballer.
Now he has cracked an AFL list, King has set his sights on graduating to the club's senior list and getting a kick in a first grade game.
But he knows there is plenty of work to be done in the meantime.
"I still have a lot of developing to do, getting my body right and working on my skills," King said.
"At the moment I'm focused on getting to the club, meeting the coaches and players.
"I'll have to work hard and hopefully I can eventually play a game (in the AFL)."
King was considered Wagga's big chance of being drafted into the AFL this year following a standout season with TAC Cup team Murray Bushrangers and a successful campaign at the Under 18 National Championships.
He missed out at last week's regular draft but was snatched up by the Demons yesterday morning and placed on the club's rookie list.
King almost missed the occasion due to a lack of sleep on Tuesday night.
"Mum came in and woke me up and said the draft was starting in about five minutes," he laughed.
"I didn't get much sleep because I was pretty nervous, but my Mum and sister were sitting next to me and we watched it on the iPad.
"I didn't even read my name before mum and my sister just started going off, then I realised I had popped up.
"It was unreal."
The 200cm key forward will join Osborne product Dean Terlich at Melbourne.
Meanwhile, former Coolamon junior and now Albury-based midfielder Mick Gibbons would be considered unlucky not to be picked up by an AFL club.
Gibbons was a standout for NSW-ACT at the National Championships and was thought to be one of the Riverina's main hopes of producing an AFL player.
He was not picked up at any of this year's drafts.
Culcairn product Sam Schulz was yesterday retained by GWS Giants as the club used their first pick to keep him on their rookie list.