IN THE SPACE of just a couple of days, Kade Stewart’s life has been turned completely upside down.
The 18-year-old was at home in Katanning on Friday morning – a country town located almost 300 kilometres south-east of Perth.
By Sunday night, he had touched down in Melbourne, after being rookie-listed by the Hawks with pick 36 in Friday’s rookie draft.
On Monday, he was at the club’s Waverley Park headquarters, starting life as a professional footballer.
“It’s been massive - a lot of things have happened in the past two and a half days, obviously being in Katanning on Friday morning and being over in Melbourne by Sunday night,” Stewart told hawthornfc.com.au.
“It’s a big change, but that’s what you’ve got to do to follow your dream, and this is where it all starts.”
Stewart was hopeful, but unsure if an AFL club would come calling at the rookie draft after initially missing out on draft night.
He had a couple of meetings with the Hawks in the lead-up, but no guarantees.
On Friday morning he was meant to be working alongside his Dad, an electrician, but that changed pretty quickly as well.
“I didn’t really know what to do after it got called out, I was meant to be working before I got the call up,” Stewart said.
“I was hoping (to be drafted), but I was just staying level-headed about it.
“The day soon changed after that, and once one person went, another one came. I was overwhelmed by all the support.
“I think Dad pretty much had the day off himself after that.”
The 180-centimetre midfielder/half-forward is an AFL Academy graduate and a product of WAFL club South Fremantle.
A skilful left-footer, Stewart represented his state at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
At 70 kilograms, he knows he needs to add some weight to his frame, and was keen to jump straight into training on his first day.
“It’s been pretty full on. We did a training session, then a bit of running and a bit of touch work. I did all my medicals and caught up with a few people… it’s been really good, I’ve really enjoyed it,” Stewart said.
For Stewart, being drafted was a “dream come true” – and he hopes that’s just the beginning.
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