By Tanya Steele
The outer east has seen Christian Moraes as the 11th pick of the night (38 overall) for the Telstra AFL National draft and he is now on his way to becoming a Port Adelaide player.
Surrounded by family and friends the 18-year-old running machine has seen his dreams come true.
“I’m pretty ecstatic, it’s unreal,” Mr Moraes said to media at his home on Thursday night.
“To be honest, I thought I might have been a chance to go a few picks earlier so when those few picks happen, you start to get a bit worried and think the worst,” he said.
Moraes said Port Adelaide is a great club.
“Some of my heroes play there, and they have such a great fan base,. their fans really care. And that’s probably, to be honest, the thing that I most wanted in wherever I went,” he said
“I’m so so stoked – I can’t even explain it with words.”
Moraes biography describes him as a running machine who is prepared to work deep into defence as well as push forward to create options for his team.
Moraes has seen an amazing season for the Eastern Ranges in the Coates Talent League, averaging 23.8 disposals and kicking 18 goals in 12 matches to finish joint runner-up in their best and fairest award.
After earning the Coates Talent League Team of the Year selection, Moraes averaged 21 disposals for Victoria Metro in a midfield group.
His time of 6:25 on the two kilometre time trial at the Draft Combine ranked equal-ninth.
Knox Football Netball club posted to social media on 21 November and said on their page huge congratulations to Christian Moraes who has been drafted this afternoon.
“We are so falcon proud of you & we can’t wait to watch you represent @pafc,” the post read.
“#38 AFL DRAFT 2024 Well done Christian, we are very proud of you!” said Eastern Ranges Football club on their social media.
Port Adelaide social media has seen clips of Moraes getting the news, posting the words ‘no greater feeling’ as the young player smiles through tears.
“Couldn’t be more happy,” Moraes said.
Head of player welfare Paul Stewart and former Power player visited Moraes’ suburban Melbourne home late Thursday night to present him with his first Port Adelaide guernsey and meet the family.
” I’m so keen,” Moraes said.
“Just want to get cracking I think I fly out on Sunday, it’ll be amazing,” he said.
