Having only played one game all year, the young player from theNorthern Territory, Nakia Cockatoo, was ‘speechless’ when he heard Geelong callout his name at pick 10 in Thursday night’s national draft.
A stress fracture in his foot kept Cockatoo away from the fieldfor all but one game in 2014, where he gave an electric performance during thisyear’s Grand Final curtain raiser at the MCG.
“I’m just over the moon and speechless about what justhappened,” Cockatoo told Cats TV minutes after his name was announced.
Although he wasn’t expecting to be Geelong’s first pick, the realityof joining Joel Selwood, Steven Motlop, Matthew Stokes and players alike didn’tkeep Cockatoo in a state of silence for long.
“It is a big honour for me and I am so humbled to go to a goodteam like Geelong, and also to be playing with Steven Motlop and Mathew Stokeswill be pretty awesome,” Cockatoo told AFL.com.au
On the day of the draft, Cockatoo admitted that his nerves had spoiled his appetite.
“I tried to eat something but I just couldn’t, nerves were justrunning through my veins, but I’m finally here now and all the pressure hasgone and the excitement is still up and about,” Cockatoo said.
Once Cockatoo received the prestigious number five guernsey fromsenior coach Chris Scott, it quickly became obvious that the 186cm midfielderhad forgotten about his nerves and was just itching to start his journey withGeelong.
“I just can’t wait to get down to Geelong and meet all theplayers and I just can’t wait to start training,” Cockatoo told Cats TV.
Accompanied with an endearing grin, Cockatoo wasn’t shy to reeloff his strengths when asked by Cats TV.
“I guess I’m competitive, a good mark, good in front of goalsand a love taking the play on and I’m pretty courageous through that…” Cockatooadmitted.
Leading up to the national draft, Cockatoo appreciated somehandy advice from his uncle Che Cockatoo-Collins, who played 85 AFL games forEssendon and 75 games for Port Adelaide during 1994 to 2003.
“It all just comes down to hard work and dedication, I guessthat’s the main tip he gave me and I’m definitely going to keep working hard,”Cockatoo said.
A debut in 2015 is definitely on Cockatoo’s wish list, however,his initial priority is to find his place in the club and to train hard.
“My first goal is to just fit in and start training, build mytank up and get strong… but yeah (playing AFL footy next year) it’s definitelya goal for me,” he said.
