Jacob Weitering knew he would be AFL's top draft pick - but it still left him near speechless.
As expected, the much-hyped Weitering was selected by Carlton with the first pick of the national draft on Tuesday night in Adelaide.
"I'm talking now but I'm speechless inside," Weitering said.
"I really don't know what to say and how to express how I'm feeling."
Weitering only turned 18 on Monday.
But he knows he now carries a burden of expectation associated with being the AFL's most-coveted draftee - not to mention the hopes of being some sort of saviour for the struggling Blues.
"But whether you're pick number one or pick 80, at the end of the day, you have achieved your dreams of being on AFL list," Weitering said.
"Obviously being number one comes with a fair bit of expectation and pressure.
"But I can only go there and do what I can do and hopefully help others do their bit as well."
The 195cm tall defender's aerial ability and sweet kicking have already been likened to established AFL stars and fellow backmen Harry Taylor and Alex Rance.
And Weitering believed he was ready to make an instant impression and immediately win senior selection at the lowly Blues, who won just four games this season and finished last.
"I would like to think so," said Weitering, who captained the undefeated Victorian Country side to this year's national under-18 championship.
"I obviously have just got to put my head down and bum up and get stuck into pre-season.
"And you have got to look at the mental and physical aspects of it.
"But I will communicate with ... all the people that make a football club run and make sure it's suitable that I get in the starting 18.
"I'm part of the Carlton football club now, it's a prestigious club and I just can't wait to get started."
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