For the newest crop of AFL youngsters, the days and weeks leading into the National Draft can be a stressful time.

There is the combination of nerves, excitement, anticipation, the fear of the unknown, and the seemingly endless phantom draft countdowns. 

Perhaps different to most potential draftees, Cody Weightman, who was snared by the Bulldogs with selection 15, had his own way of dealing with the build-up. 

“My exams finished really early, so I tried to get away and entertain my mind basically, so I wasn’t just sitting around waiting for 20 days for the draft,” Weightman told Bulldogs Media after being drafted. 

WATCH: CLASS OF 2019 – CODY WEIGHTMAN 

“Your mind is ticking all year, with school and footy.  Once school had finished it was pretty much just the draft.

“As good as it is to have that problem, I didn’t really want that.  I wanted to keep myself thinking fresh so that when the night came along, I was ready to go. 

“I got away and did a lot of surfing over in the reefs over in Bali, which was really fun.

“I probably learned to chill out, which is something I don’t do a lot of.

WATCH: CODY WEIGHTMAN HIGHLIGHTS 

“I was stoked to come back and be really fresh.  Now I can get back into it and have a good crack at it.”

On Draft night, the Dogs pounced with selection 15.  A few seconds after his name was read out, he was presented with his first red, white and blue guernsey by the Club’s premiership skipper, Easton Wood. 

“It’s pretty crazy.  I was listening to him on a podcast last week, then you’re shaking his hand,” Weightman said. 

“It’s a bit overwhelming.  It’s been a crazy night.  I’m stoked.”

VISIT THE BULLDOGS’ NAB DRAFT HUB, PRESENTED BY GREVILLE PABST