New Tiger Jack Graham joins Rooster teammate Oleg Markov at RichmondMatt Turner,
The Advertiser
November 27, 2016 DINNER is on Oleg Markov when Jack Graham reunites with his former North Adelaide teammate at Richmond.
Graham was tipped to be a top-30 selection at Friday night’s AFL National Draft but the inside midfielder was forced to wait anxiously until the Tigers selected him with pick 53.
A short time later, close friend and ex-Rooster Markov congratulated him via text.
“Oleg said ‘Monday, dinner’s on me’,” Graham, 18, says.
“I’m pretty stoked to get to see him again.
“We were pretty close, he’s a great bloke and I’m sure he’ll take me under his wing.
“(Tigers captain) Trent Cotchin also sent me a message, saying ‘welcome to Tigerland’.
“Straight away all the boys have made me feel welcome and it’s a great feeling.”
This past season Graham became the first Croweater in 14 years to win the Larke Medal for the best division one player at the national under-18 titles.
The SA captain averaged 25.3 disposals during the championships and was named in the under-18 all-Australian team.
He was linked to Brisbane’s mid-20s selections in the lead-up to the draft and Essendon spoke with him on Friday.
But the Lions and Bombers overlooked him, leaving the Tigers to pounce.
For a while, Graham thought he might have to wait until Monday’s rookie draft to find an AFL home.
“You never know really with the draft,” he says.
“I was getting a bit nervous but I’m over the moon that Richmond picked me up.
“At the end of the day, we all start out on the same line.”
Graham — the son of former West Torrens player Jeff Graham — watched the draft at home in Greenwith with friends and family.
He says his heart sank a little bit when his name was called.
“I couldn’t believe it — the dream kind of came true,” he says.
“Mum was like all mums, over the moon and jumping for joy.
“Dad gave me the old handshake and hug, and just said ‘congratulations’.”
Graham was stunned to be one of just four homegrown Croweaters taken on Friday.
The others were Roosters teammate Will Hayward (Sydney), Woodville-West Torrens defender Brennan Cox (Fremantle) and Sturt basketball convert Lewis Young (Western Bulldogs).
“Some of the talent we had at the national champs was great and I’m surprised some of the other boys didn’t get picked up,” he says.
“I thought there was going to be a lot more than four.”
Graham, who stands 183cm and 83kg, will head to Melbourne on Sunday.
He says being selected later in the draft will motivate him during his first AFL pre-season.
“You just want to go out there and put your best foot forward,” he says.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know the boys and making sure I get their respect.”
Jack Graham, drafted to Richmond, with his mum Sue, sister Keeley (10) and dad Jeff.http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/new-tiger-jack-graham-joins-rooster-teammate-oleg-markov-at-richmond/news-story/c5ebba82905deda7923abf0b1d5a06c4