Tara Murray
When Northern Knights’ Jesse Dattoli purchased a Sydney Swans scarf for the AFL grand final, little did he know that it would come in handy weeks later.
One of the draft hopefuls hoping to achieve their draft dream, Dattoli was watching the AFL draft from home on Wednesday night when the Swans had pick 22.
Having spoken to the Swans a number of times in the lead up to the draft, Dattoli put on the Swans scarf thinking he might be a chance.
The small forward was correct as the Swans picked him.
Dattoli said it was pretty special to be drafted..
“It’s crazy, I can’t put it into words,” he said the day after. “It’s a dream come true, ever since I was a little kid.
“The nerves were pretty good early on, as it started getting closer towards the end I started to get nervous.
“As soon as the Swans had their pick I was pretty confident. But you never know, that is why I had the scarf on.”
Dattoli said he kept the Swans scarf after the grand final just in case the Swans ended up taking him on draft night.
“It ended up coming true,” he said. “I went back later that night and watched the video and everyone jumped on top of me.
“I didn’t remember much, so I had to go back and watch it. It was crazy.”
Dattoli said his chats with the Swans had been pretty good in the lead up.
He doesn’t have long in Melbourne before he makes the move to Sydney.
“It’ll be hard at first, especially moving out of home,” he said. “I’ll get used to it pretty fine, I’m pretty independent.
“I can do things pretty well myself. It starts on Monday at training next week and I’ve got to impress from there.
“I leave Sunday, I can’t wait.”
Dattoli moves into the AFL system after three years at the Northern Knights
He said this year they ended up better than what they probably thought they would in the end.
“Overall it was a really good year.”
Dattoli will build his own football legacy, having grown up in the football environment.
His father Vinny Dattoli has coached Heidelberg to the past two Northern Football League division 1 premierships.
“He’s so rapt,” he said. “We’ve put in a lot of work since when I was young and it’s paid off.”
As for what Swans supporters can expect from him?
“They can expect a lot of x-factor, a lot of excitement coming in the forward 50.”
Dattoli was the only Northern Knights player taken on night one of the draft.
