Lachie Weller knows that by the end of Thursday night, he will fulfill a lifelong dream of landing on an AFL list.
What the teenager doesn’t know is which club will read his name out at the 2014 national draft.
The classy midfielder has been a member of the Gold Coast SUNS academy for the past three seasons, but due to the fact that he relocated from Tasmania with his family three years ago (players must live in the state for a minimum of five years), Weller is ineligible to be picked by the SUNS as an academy selection.
The 18-year-old revealed that his exposure to an AFL environment during his time in the SUNS academy has provided him with an understanding of the demands and requirements of playing the game at the highest level.
“It gave me a bit of an insight into the intensity they bring every day and how important recovery is so you can turn up every day and be 100 per cent,” Weller told reporters at Wet'n'Wild on Monday.
“It’s obviously a massive step up in the training and the intensity and your professionalism.
“Seeing what the SUNS boys do you get a bit of an insight of what they go through and I’m preparing myself for that.”
Weller’s brother Maverick, four years his senior, was one of the first players to sign with Gold Coast when the club was formed. After 32 games in three seasons, the hard-nosed onballer was delisted at the end of 2013, before being selected by St Kilda in the 2013 rookie draft.
The harsh reality of the AFL landscape has taught the younger Weller to not waste any opportunities presented to him and to never give up on his dream.
“Taking every opportunity you get, trying to stick to your strengths. Mav got delisted and didn’t give up and got a second chance and he’s going really well now.”
The Tasmanian native is not concerned by where his football future lies; he is prepared to move wherever he needs to in order to pursue his dream.
“Every club in the AFL is a good club and the same opportunity everywhere you go.
“I’m willing to move and pack up my bags, I think it will be a good opportunity to go live somewhere else as well.”