Tara Murray
It’s been a long wait but Calder Cannons Isaac Kako is officially an Essendon footballer.
The teenager has long been part of the Bombers Next Generation Academy giving him an inside look into the club in recent years.
The Bombers nominated him for the draft and were expected to match any bids that come from other clubs.
When it got to pick 13 and Richmond put a bid in, the Bombers quickly matched to make it all official on Wednesday night.
Kako said it was pretty exciting to finally become a Bomber.
“It feels great, a long time coming I felt,” he said the day after the draft. “It’s finally happening, it’s official.
“I feel like there weren’t nerves but when you get in there, it’s getting closer to your range that nerves start kicking in.”
Kako was a keen observer on draft night last year as good mate Nate Caddy was selected by the Bombers.
Caddy returned the honour and was on Kako’s draft table this year.
Kako said they can’t wait to play together again having formed a strong combination for Parade College.
“It sort of lit a fire in me,” he said watching last year. “It really pushed me to get invited this year and I was really happy I did and I shared that moment with him as well.
“I’ve played heaps of good footy with him [Caddy] and hopefully do it on the big stage.”
Kako’s local club the Northern Saints held a draft party to watch the draft.
Not surprisingly there was a fair bit of noise when Kako was picked.
“The Northern Saints mean a great deal to me” he said. “What they did, you can tell are a real tightknit community.”
The Cannons have also played a major role in his development.
“I really enjoyed that, been there since 16 or 15,” he said. “It has been really good program for me and I’m really happy having them behind my back.”
Kako said having been part of the Bombers and already having done some pre-season would help when it came to being there full time.
He said he had been at the club a fair bit.
“I know most of the guys and I’m really happy,” he said. “I’m already pretty comfortable with the guys and I’ll get stuck right into it.
“I think I officially start tomorrow [Friday]. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Kako said he would see how things panned out next year but said everyone’s goal is to play as early on as they can.
He said he’ll do the right things to try and get selected.
Kako said he was hoping to have fellow Cannon and NGA player Jayden Nguyen get picked up by the Bombers before the end of the week.
