Gach Nyuon grew up an Essendon fan and enjoyed watching the skills of former player Andrew Lovett and current day Bombers Dyson Heppell, Tayte Pears and Courtenay Dempsey.
Now he calls three of his idols teammates.
“I sort of have to pinch myself sometimes,” Nyuon said.
“It’s pretty weird having them around but I’m slowly getting used to it.
“The Club’s been very welcoming and I really appreciate that.
“The boys have been pretty good getting around the first year players.”
The Bombers selected Nyuon with their first pick (number four overall) in the Rookie Draft, just three days after he was overlooked in the National Draft.
“I watched the draft until the last pick and not getting called out was pretty disappointing but I was happy for all of my mates who got drafted,” he said.
“I just thought to myself just wait until the Rookie Draft and see what happens there.”
Nyuon was one of the standout performers at the AFL Draft Combine, impressing recruiters with his vertical leap.
His coaches at under 18 side Dandenong said he also runs an impressive three-kilometre time trial.
But adapting to an AFL pre-season has taken some adjusting.
“At my previous clubs we’ve never done anything like wrestling on a Saturday morning,” he said.
‘Those sessions have been pretty tough. The first couple of days were really tough with the running. But I’m starting to ease into it, which is good.”
Nyuon is a relative newcomer to Aussie Rules but his talent was spotted early on.
Dandenong recruiters only needed to see him play one local game before inviting him in to their program.
He represented Vic Country in the last two National carnivals and also honed his skills in the AFL Academy.
Last season, he averaged 22 hit outs and ten possessions per game.
In 2016, he wants to continue perfecting his craft.
“I’m just hoping to develop and hopefully get a few games in the NAB Cup and just develop in the VFL,” he said.
“With the size I’m carrying I probably won’t play any AFL games next season but it would be good to get a game or two.”
