Essendon draftee Ben Hobbs was involved in the most emotional moment in the first round of the AFL Draft, fighting back tears before hearing his name called.
Hobbs, who was tipped by many experts to go inside the top-10, slid on the opening night of the draft before the Bombers jumped at the chance to select him.
Prior to the selection being made official by AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, cameras panned to Hobbs who looked worried that he’d been sliding before feelings of anxiousness were replaced by ones of pure joy.
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“It’s an amazing feeling,” Hobbs told Fox Footy.
“I’m so glad that my name’s been called out by the Bombers. They’re an amazing club and I can’t wait to get into it.
“I got a call this afternoon and they just said, ‘If you’re there it could happen’, so I’m so happy it’s happened.
“It’s been a dream for as long as I can remember and it’s the best day of my life for sure. Dad’s an Essendon supporter so it’s worked perfectly.”
Hobbs was greeted by an Essendon contingent after he was drafted, with skipper Dyson Heppell, Dylan Shiel, Andrew McGrath and Jordan Ridley in attendance.
“It wasn’t too big of a night, but five of the Essendon boys came and saw me at the London Tavern, so that was a really special moment,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“They met my family and made me feel a little bit more comfortable.”