Darley’s Aaron Cadman just wanted to make sure he did enough to get picked for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels this season.
Nowhere in his thinking come the end of the season, he would be talked about as the best key forward in the draft, with many experts expecting him to go top 10,
With the national combine held on the weekend and the AFL draft quickly approaching, Cadman said it was all starting to feel real.
“There was no way I was predicting this year,” he said. “It was unexpected, as I was just trying to make the Rebels.
“Then to have one thing happen after another. I played some alright football and got selected into some cool squads.
“I’m looking forward to finishing it.”
Cadman played a handful of games in his first season at the Rebels, taking in everything he could from the likes of Ben Hobbs, Josh Gibcus and Sam Butler who are all on AFL lists.
He said he still keeps in touch with them and picks their brains about football and what might come.
For Cadman he said it was the coaches that got him to where he is now.
“The coaches have really helped me,” he said. “They did a lot of one-on-one sessions at training, working on my marking skills and forward craft.”
After starting the season well, Cadman was selected in the Vic Country team for the national championships.
He also made the Australian Academy team and was named in the under-18 All-Australian team for his performances at the national championships.
Cadman got to be co-captain of the Vic Country side,
“It was pretty cool to be named captain of that squad,” he said. “I love those boys and to captain them against Vic Metro and see that rivalry was really good.”
Cadman’s season at the Rebels was recognised as he won the club best and fairest. He said that was the icing on the cake.
As well as playing school football this year, Cadman somehow managed to squeeze in a senior debut with Darley in the Ballarat Football League.
He was one of four sets of brothers to play for the Devils that day.
“I had always looked forward to playing with both my brothers, but one was injured that day,” he said.
“All these guys had been there while I was in juniors and I used to look up to the older guys. To have them as teammates was pretty special.”
Having focused on football fully when he was 15, after playing some cricket when he was younger, Cadman is keen to try and get on an AFL list.
He models his game and attitude off field on Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron.
Speaking before the combine, Cadman said he would continue to focus on making sure he did everything to achieve his dream.
“Hopefully I go already with my testing,” he said. “Then we’ll sit and wait and see what happens.
“I’ll look to get myself ready to do a pre-season. I’ll try and get as many kilometres under my belt as a I can.”
