There were plenty of hurdles to overcome for Mitch Duncan when his name was read out at Pick 28 in the 2009 AFL Draft, and his journey with the Cats commenced.
The first challenge was to move across the country, Duncan growing up in Western Australia and needing to relocate to his new home in Geelong.
Another significant part was earning his spot in the team, with the Cats coming off their second premiership win in three years (2009).
Looking back at his memories of the draft and his AFL journey, Duncan said he is grateful to have landed where he did.
"I started with a host family who I had a really great time with and showed me the ropes, helping me to grow up and get settled in really seamlessly," Duncan told Cats Media.
"I was a little bit disappointed at the start to get drafted to Geelong because they had just won the 2009 flag and I thought jeez, I am not going to get a game for two or three years potentially.
"I was lucky enough to debut in round one the next year in Joel Corey's 200th game, which was funny because he was one of the first people that reached out when I got drafted. A fellow Western Australia player, I think he was from East Perth which is the club I played footy for as well.
"Looking back now it was a long time ago, but I thank my lucky stars that I landed where I did."
After being drafted at the end of 2009, Duncan has gone on to forge a sensational career with the Cats as he prepares for his 16th season at the top level in 2025.
To date Duncan has played 296 AFL games, also a two time premiership player with Geelong along the way (2011, 2022).
Duncan reminisced on some of his earliest footballing experiences, helping him to prepare for the draft and his career in the AFL.
"I am not sure how the family felt about me leaving, but it is obviously something that I had dreamed of doing," Duncan said.
"As I got older, up until about 17 years old, I was playing a bit of rep footy and playing for the state. I was lucky enough to be part of the AIS Academy, which is now the talent pathway, and I was lucky enough to travel to Africa with a group of footy players which was one of the best experiences that I have had.
"Being a part of those teams and sides, you get a bit of an inkling of where you sit.
"I knew I definitely wasn't going to be a high draft pick, I thought I was somewhere in between but you just never know on the night what is going to happen."
The 2024 Telstra AFL Draft commences on Wednesday night, with Geelong expected to be heavily involved on the second night of action.
