Northern Knights’ Matthew Signorello didn’t have long to let the news settle in that he was an AFL player.
Drafted by Adelaide at pick 62 on Friday night in the AFL national draft, Signorello quickly found himself moving across the border.
“It’s been a pretty hectic few days moving here and learning everyone’s name,” he said on Tuesday.
“I had one day to say goodbye to everyone at home before coming across. I was in at the club yesterday.”
The 18-year-old had spoke with several clubs in the lead up to the draft including Adelaide, but was unsure whether he would be selected.
“I talked to them a couple of times and thought I might my have a chance to go through to them,” he said. “But you never know what will happen at the start of the night [draft].
“Everyone was in tears when I was selected. At the start it was with happiness and then a little bit of sadness knowing I was moving interstate.”
For Signorello, being drafted shows how far he has come in the last 12 months. The Bundoora resident was cut at the first stage of the Vic Metro squad this year.
The South Morang and West Preston Lakeside junior played eight games with the Knights and just as many with Ivanhoe Grammar this year.
“The hard work the last couple of years has really paid off.”
Signorello has moved in with defender Kyle Hartigan and will begin training this week.
He will be on a restricted training load to start with as he recovers from a shoulder injury.
Signorello was the second and last Knights player selected; Patrick Lipinski was pick 28, taken up by the Western Bulldogs.
Signorello becomes the first Knights player drafted to the Crows since 2001. Before the draft, he said this season had been his best year of football so far.
Knights’ talent manager Rhy Gieschen said Signorello would revel at Adelaide Oval.
“He takes absolutely everything in his stride, and this won’t be any different,” he said.
“He is a sensational athlete with outstanding courage, and his mix of speed and endurance will suit the expanses of Adelaide Oval perfectly.
“He is a really popular member of our program and no doubt he will fit in really well at an interstate club, and they will embrace him extremely well.”
