Two former Gisborne footballers are beginning to live the dream.
Sam Ramsay and Harrison Jones, who until this season just gone played with the Calder Cannons, were picked up last week in the AFL draft.
Ramsay, who was number 47 in the draft has been snared by Carlton. Jones was pick 30 and is now a member of the team he has followed all his life – Essendon.
But sit around and dream is something neither has been able to do – training with their clubs kicked in on Friday.
While they have both been with the Cannons for three years, their loyalties were with Gisborne. When the opportunity arose Ramsay came back to play with Gisborne Bulldogs. They were junior footballers with Gisborne and Jones’ most recent big club achievement was playing in the 2018 Under 18s grand final with the Bulldogs.
Cannons talent manager Tom Lonergan said he was hopeful that Ramsay (who was a joint winner of the Cannons Best and Fairest) and Jones would be picked up in this year’s draft.
He said they were both really strong players and consistent ones and he was confident they were AFL bound.
Carlton has boasted on the club Facebook page that Ramsay is one of the draftees who will add midfield quality to the team.
He was picked up on the second night of the draft.
Jones’ childhood dream came true on when he was nabbed in Essendon’s first selection. He is described as a “strong-marking forward”. Essendon rated him as a round-one pick and was thrilled to rise up the draft list to secure him with the club.
Gisborne Football Netball Club president John Wood said the club was delighted that two of its former players were now with AFL clubs.
