For many young footballers around the country, Tuesday was a waiting game, a test of one’s patience. For new Gold Coast recruit, Brayden Fiorini, the nerves started when he woke up and accelerated once the draft started that night.
 
Following a strong season with the Northern Knights and for Vic Metro at the national carnival, Fiorini was tipped to be taken somewhere between the end of the first round and around No. 50.
 
When Rodney Eade called out his name at pick No. 20, Fiorini was overwhelmed with the news. He knew the SUNS were interested, particularly after a breakfast with recruiting manager, Dom Ambrogio, and list manager, Scott Clayton, but he didn’t think they would pounce with their second pick – the final pick of the first round.
 
“I had the family over, the nerves were starting to kick in in the morning. It was a very long day just waiting for it,” Fiorini told SUNS TV during his first official interview as a Gold Coast footballer.
 
“I was glad when it got under way, it took awhile to get to my pick – the first ten picks dragged on a bit – I was just rapt when my name got read out, I was overwhelmed.
 
“So they were a bit shocked, a bit surprised, Mum was pretty emotional at the start, but they were rapt for me, everyone was getting around me so I’ll never forget it.
 
“I had a bit to do them. It started at the combine firstly, I met most of the staff there, had an interview. I went out for brekkie with Dom and Scotty – that was a couple of weeks ago.
 
“So (I) had a rough idea, I didn’t think I’d go that early, I was waiting for the late 20’s, sort of more the 30’s so I was a bit shocked when my name was read out.”
 
Fiorini played every game of his underage season with the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup in 2014, establishing himself at the level as an accomplished outside player who was capable of cutting opposition sides apart with his penetrating left foot.
 
The knock on Fiorini was his game was unbalanced. Recruiters thought he was limited to playing on the outside, on the periphery. With this in mind, the Victorian shifted into the midfield, and became a clearance king, particularly in the second half of this season where he averaged close to 40 disposals a game.
 
“Last year I predominantly played as the outside wing, half-back sort of player. This year, the knock on me was to win more of the contested ball and get inside, so to be able to do that I had to go into the midfield and develop my game that way,” he said.
 
In a drafting anomaly, Gold Coast recruited one of Fiorini’s best mates in Friday’s rookie draft, selecting Darcy MacPherson from the Northern Knights with pick No. 21.
 
“Me and ‘Darce’ have been mates for awhile now, go to the same school, played through Knights together, I suppose we formed that relationship. I can’t wait to get stuck into pre-season with him, it will be real fun,” he said.