Joel Crocker's earliest football memory places him in the middle of the North Melbourne huddle, as Dean Laidley's men belted out ''join in the chorus'' after defeating Hawthorn in a semi-final at the MCG in 2007.
New Roos Curtis Taylor and Joel Crocker.Credit:The Age
The 18-year-old, listed at 189 centimetres and able to play through the middle and up forward, will be hoping it isn't too long until he tastes similar success, though there might be a bit more Gatorade involved this time around.
Shinboner spirit runs through Crocker's veins, his father Darren being a member of Denis Pagan's 1996 premiership side and now North's director of coaching.
Crocker, taken at pick 69, credits his dad with much of his development.
"He's helped me a lot to get to this point."
After watching tapes of his father, the ex-Brighton Grammar boy sees merit in the oft-quoted similarities to his dad's playing style.
"He obviously taught me how to play footy, so it's not surprising."
Crocker insists his dad didn't force him to watch the tapes.
"I've always been footy-obsessed. There was actually a game on Fox Footy last night that Bailey Scott (taken at pick 49 in this year's draft) and I were watching where both our dads were playing, which was pretty funny."
Having spoken with several clubs during the draft combine, Crocker wasn't certain he'd land at Arden Street until a week before the draft.
Crocker's body hampered his lead-in to the draft. He missed the majority of the past two seasons with ankle concerns.
"The ankle's feeling really good … the syndesmosis is about 95 per cent – it's nearly there."
"I'll be fully training in a few weeks' time."
Crocker is sharing a digs in Coburg for the next week with North's other draftees, with the club hoping to cement strong relationships between the players early doors.
Another of those shacked up in Coburg is No. 46 pick Curtis Taylor, who was impressed with his new club.
"It's a great culture and a great history."
A noted contested-ball winner, out of the Calder Cannons, Taylor cited the presence of AFL games record-holder Brent Harvey and a home visit from Jack Ziebell and Robbie Tarrant as early markers of the club's ethos.
Listed at 187 centimetres and also able to play forward, Taylor was forced to wait until day two of the draft to be picked up, seen as one of the draft's big sliders.
"It was obviously a hard night thinking about it all, but worth the wait in the end."
It is understood Taylor slipped to a lower-than-expected pick 46 as a result of concerns around his application at training.
Curtis was less suspicious: "That's (46), just where I'm rated."
Taylor has worked closely with Roos forward Mason Wood over the past year and is hopeful of sharing the attacking 50 with him in years to come.
“As soon as I got home (after the draft), I was home for five minutes and he knocked on the door and gave me a hug.”
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