When the cameras panned to Tanner Bruhn on AFL Draft Night, the teenager was quickly having social media conversations for all the wrong reasons.
GWS had just mentioned Bruhn’s name in selection no. 12, but instead of exploding in ecstasy, the shy boy was caught in a blank expression.
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The immediate assumption was that the boy was disappointed with his goal, but on Thursday a grinning Bruhn said he was anything but.
“A couple of people said that – that maybe I looked a little angry or whatever,” Bruhn told AAP.
“But I’m so happy – it’s such a good result and it was more shock than anything … I’m pretty reluctant so my emotion probably hasn’t shown, but I’m just so happy.”
Bruhn spoke to GWS trainer Leon Cameron, captain Stephen Coniglio and fellow Giants Lachie Whitfield and Phil Davis on Draft Night, while FaceTime with Toby Greene followed on Thursday.
“Seeing Leon and Stephen’s faces when they came on the video screen – it was pretty surreal,” he said.
“I had no idea who was behind the camera, but when they were there I was like ‘wow’.
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“It became a bit more real for me that it happened – so I was overjoyed.”
The next day everyone was smiling as Tanner Bruhn posed for photos in a Giants sweater. Image: AFL Photos
Bruhn will spend the rest of the week packing for his flight to Sydney on Sunday, where he will be accompanied by a well-known GWS colleague and his former teammate Cameron Fleeton from Geelong Falcons.
The classy midfielder is ready to play footy again after a knee injury ruined his 2019 and the coronavirus pandemic shattered his 2020 plans.
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“Of course I missed something last year, so I was hoping to increase my stocks this year, but with that cut it was quite challenging,” he said.
“But I’m on a list now and that was my dream – so I’ll do whatever I can to make an impact and achieve what I can.”
