Tara Murray
Western Jets co-captain Lucca Grego had a feeling he was headed to West Coast in the AFL draft.
While Grego hadn’t been told the Eagles were going to pick him, the Eagles pick 48 was one that he watched with interest on Thursday.
That anticipation quickly turned into excitement as Grego’s name was called out.
“I had a little bit of a feeling and my manager let me know to be ready around the West Coast picks and see what happens,” he said.
“I had a little inkling, had a little feeling that West Coast was going to pick me up. I had friends and family around and watching the tv anxiously as well, like me.
“It was awesome to have their support there with me. The lady that was reading out the names didn’t actually get to finish my full name and they jumped on me.
“It was electric, that was the way to describe it.”
Grego said the following day that it was still settling in that he was an AFL player.
While many teenagers are hesitant to make the move from Melbourne to Perth, Grego said he was excited for the opportunity.
He isn’t new to moving, having lived in Queensland before coming down to Victoria, while has plenty of others in use family who have gone through the same experience.
“I feel unreal, I prefer to go interstate,” he said. “I’m very glad I got the opportunity to go interstate.
“Both my parents moved out to play their sports at a young age and I’m excited to travel to West Coast and be around the boys at West Coast.
“It’s a young team that looks like it will be thriving in a couple of years. I’m really excited and keen.”
Grego came from a rugby background and played for Victoria in under-12s before concentrating on football.
He moved his football out to Bacchus Marsh where he now lives. He was at the Cobras until this year, when he decided to join Essendon District Football League premier side, Keilor.
Grego was one of two Bacchus Marsh boys taken in the draft, with Sam Lalor going to Richmond at pick one.
“I was super rapt for him,” he said. “He has worked super hard the past three years, bit unfortunate this year with injury, super rapt to hear his name called out.”
Another former Bacchus Marsh player Liam Duggan, is one of Grego’s new captains at the Eagles.
Grego said he’d heard from Duggan and was super keen to go over and see him again.
The new Eagle doesn’t have long to let things settle in as he makes the move to Perth on Sunday.
Grego said he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“A lot of excitement, a lot of nerves,” he said of what he’s expecting. “I’m ready to meet a lot of the boys and get stuck into the pre-season and hopefully have a big year.”
Grego said the focus for him was to develop himself, have the team win and do whatever the team needs.
He said he was keen to play round one.
“I’m there to get the best out of myself and the best out of my teammates.”
