The 2008 National AFL draft is only one sleep away and, while there will be many bleary-eyed football hopefuls at tomorrow’s draft to see if their aspirations of playing AFL come true, there will be nothing but sweet dreaming tonight for Darcy Daniher.

Daniher’s hopes of being selected by an AFL club are already a reality after being selected by Essendon with selection 39 under the father/son rule.

“I’m really relieved to know that I am already settled here at Essendon,” Daniher said.

“It would be a stressful position to be in but I’m really happy to already know where I will be playing next year and to have started training already.”

Daniher will attend tomorrow’s draft with his father, former Essendon star Anthony Daniher, and his mother, and is hopeful that one of his former Calder Cannons team-mates will join him at Windy Hill next season.

“There are about six or seven of the boys from the Cannons that are hoping to get drafted tomorrow,” Daniher said.

“I’ll probably give a few of the boys a call tonight and wish them the best of luck and I’m sure there will be a few congratulatory messages tomorrow.”

Since beginning training with Essendon on Monday, Daniher admits that he wasn’t expecting such a rigorous training regime but has found the settling-in process a smooth transition thanks to the hospitality of his team-mates.

“Training has been really good so far, except the work is a lot harder than what I am used to so I have been going to bed pretty early,” Daniher said.

“All the boys have been really good to me, particularly Lloydy and some of the younger guys like Andrew Lee and Angus Monfries, who have made settling in a lot easier.

“Matthew Knights has also been really helpful. He is always there and if I ever need any questions answered then he is always willing to talk and give advice.