While some draftees don’t have to move out of
The midfielder-defender was acquired with St Kilda’s fourth and final pick (No. 46) in last November’s NAB AFL Draft, following an eye-catching year for the Murray Bushrangers and Vic Country, where his form in the carnival earned him All-Australian selection.
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Paton, 19, admits moving in with one of the games rising stars was intimidating at first, but Billings has quickly become a sounding board for anything and everything in his first pre-season at Linen House Centre.
“I suppose it was a bit daunting at the start, living with a rising star of the competition. I didn’t want to put a foot wrong, but he’s only human,” Paton told saints.com.au with a grin this week.
“Being able to talk to him about anything to do with footy, or even outside footy has been really helpful.
“Just to be able to rub shoulders with him and get some knowledge
With his maiden pre-season nearly sewn up, Paton admits he is looking forward to games replacing the brutal summer slog.
“I’ve nearly got my first pre-season under the belt. It’s been a really good experience,” he said.
“It’s definitely been tough work, so it’s good to start playing more games at training and get closer to proper games now.”
Paton says the transition from the TAC Cup to inside the tent of an AFL club has been made easier by the presence of the other draftees, who he already knew from his underage career.
He played at the Bushrangers with rookie Doulton Langlands, and at Vic Country with Hunter Clark (pick No. 7) and Oscar Clavarino (No. 35), while he was named in the All-Australian side with Nick Coffield (No. 8).
“We’re a close group of mates and outside the footy
“It’s been a really good transition out of the TAC Cup and into an AFL environment with those boys.”
