As the newest crop of AFL players and their families mingled with coaches, recruiters and other club officials on the floor of the Sydney Showgrounds on Friday night, the optimism in the air was palpable.

And why wouldn’t it be, kids who not long ago were kicking the ball around the backyard were now on AFL lists. 

In the case of the Western Bulldogs, the look on young Ed Richards’ face when Recruitment Manager Simon Dalrymple introduces him to Chris Grant is in many ways what the draft is all about.

After a busy trade period, the Dogs arrived in Homebush with picks, 9, 16 and 79, the first time the Club have had a top 10 selection since they picked a skinny kid from Eltham at 4 back in 2013.

The draft can be as long, and as nervous a wait for Club’s as it is for players and their families, but in Aaron Naughton, Ed Richards and Callum Porter the Dogs were able to remain faithful to their pre-draft talent list.

Speaking to westernbulldogs.com.au immediately after the draft, Dalrymple was genuinely excited by the class of 2017.

“We’re always pretty happy after any draft, but particularly this one, we think we’ve got a really good mix of players, he said.

“We have a pretty simple strategy of picking the best player available. 

“We didn’t  want to get too cute and shuffle them around and take a risk of liking someone at nine and trying to pick them at 16, so it was best player available and in that you’ll get a little bit of a mix rather than get two of the same, and we certainly got that result.”

The raw size of first-pick Naughton was obvious as he went from photo shoot to media interview back stage, and Dalrymple believes the draft’s best intercept marker is a strong chance to play senior football in 2018.

“We don’t put ceilings on any boys,” he said.

“But given that he has already played against men and was in Peel Thunder, which is Fremantle’s seconds team, there’s a big chance that he could.  

“Pre-season, how he adapts, all of those factors need to be taken into account, but he’s more likely than unlikely.”

While Friday night was a dream come true for the newest pups and the rest of the draftees across the League, it’ll be Monday when the hard work really begins.