DRAFT DAY 2010 was an emotional one for Paul Puopolo.

A mature age draft prospect from South Australia standing at just 173cm, Puopolo didn’t think he’d ever get the chance to join an AFL club.

He fractured his back when he was 18 and by the time of the 2005 National Draft, wasn’t in a good place both physically and mentally and knew he was no chance of fulfilling his dream.

Because of that, he doubted even if he should nominate for the 2010 National Draft when he was picked up by the Hawks with selection 66.

A successful season with SANFL club Norwood and the support of coaches, teammates and family, however, changed that.

Norwood made the SANFL Grand Final in 2010 and after an outstanding season, turned out to be his saving grace.

“I definitely had doubts,” Puopolo told hawthornfc.com.au about his chances of making it onto an AFL list.

“It took me two or three years to really get going again (after the injury and missing out on selection) and then it came to the time where Norwood was in the Grand Final and everyone was saying ‘you might get picked up, you’re playing really good footy are you going to nominate for the draft?’

“At the time I was thinking I wanted to be picked up but I don’t even know if I’ll bother because I didn’t think I was going to get a chance being pretty short.

“Then a few clubs had spoken to me and I thought I better nominate for the draft, I actually might have a chance.”

As if the wait to be drafted wasn’t long enough, Puopolo needed to wait until selection 66 to be picked up by the club he actually didn’t expect to join.

Hawthorn had showed interest during the year and after the SANFL Grand Final but were coy on their intentions.

“I actually spoke to Hawthorn during the season while I was playing for Norwood but nothing really serious until the end of the year and after I played in the Grand Final for Norwood,” he recalled.

“After that I had a few chats with them but I wasn’t confident.

“They were a bit silent and playing it safe, I didn’t have a great feeling that I was coming to Hawthorn.”

Western Bulldogs on the other hand were keen and intended to select him following their father/son picks, Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore.

“The club I thought I was actually going to go to was Western Bulldogs – they actually flew me over and told me to take a day off work so they could show me around the club and tell me they were hoping to pick me up,” he said.

“They said they had a couple of father/son picks so they would take me a bit later.

“Hawthorn obviously got in before they could though…I’m definitely happy I came to Hawthorn because of the great success we’ve had.”

Of Italian heritage, Puopolo shared the emotional draft night with his family who were overcome with pride when he was selected by the Hawks.

“I shared it with my immediate family – my mum and dad, my grandparents and my uncle came around to watch it as well,” he remembered.

“I was hoping my name got called out because otherwise it would be very disappointing but they were just happy that I even had a chance of getting drafted.

“My family were very proud. They made the journey over here and to be successful in something, they’re very proud of me because I’ve worked pretty hard to get here and made a lot of sacrifices.

“To see all the hard work pay off, it has definitely been worth it.”

It was a relief, and Puopolo isn’t afraid to admit it.

He quit his full-time job that night and began life as an AFL footballer, though it didn’t sink in until he arrived at the Ricoh Centre, met his new teammates and began training.

“It was a different experience because I didn’t know if I was going to get picked up or not and whether or not I was going to have to go to work the next day because I was working a full-time job at the time,” he said.

“I knew I’d be at the back end of the draft but it was just such a relief.

“I sort of just sat there while everyone was clapping – it just didn’t feel like reality until I actually got here and met all the boys. That’s when it felt real.

“Coming to a great side and being part of the success of Hawthorn, I’m always going to be grateful to have had the opportunity to come to a club like this.”