HE'S trained with idol Karmichael Hunt and shopped with Gary Ablett, but today Josh Hall will find out if his dream has come true.
Hall, who earlier this year turned his back on an Olympic athletics goal to pursue Aussie Rules, will go under the hammer at the AFL Rookie Draft in Melbourne, where it is hoped the Gold Coast Suns will snap him up.
While the 21-year-old refused to get too far ahead of himself yesterday, his chances appear pretty good.
He has spent the past week on the Gold Coast training with the Suns' full squad, which has included the likes of highly regarded midfielder Ablett and Hunt, who, like Hall, made the transition from another sport to AFL.
"I'm confident I can hopefully stay here and basically start playing footy for the Gold Coast," former high jumper Hall said.
"But it's obviously not 100 per cent or anything.
"(The Suns) were surprised by the athletic ability that I have (at training over the past week) ... and pretty happy with me in that, but they have indicated that I obviously have to put a bit of size on, a bit of strength."
There have been sniffs of interest, it is understood, from two other AFL clubs, but the Suns appear the most likely avenue.
The Gold Coast will enjoy nine picks this morning - 2, 20, 38, 56, 72, 82, 88, 92 and 94.
"It's good to just be a part of a group - athletics is a lot of training individually - but being part of a group with Gary Ablett and one of my idols Karmichael Hunt has been amazing," said Hall, who played for Curra in the AFL Townsville Premiership.
"I thought I was going to come down here and do my own thing and watch them train, but I've been involved in every session.
"So I'm thrilled to be here and just the opportunity I've been given, I'll try to harness it and do the best I can."
Far from being intimidated by the Suns' big-name stars, Hall has immediately become well-known to the playing group.
"I went shopping with Gary and had a good chat with 'K' (former NRL star Hunt) to see how long it took for him to go from (rugby) league into the AFL mind-frame and all that kind of stuff," he said.
"He said it takes a while, but once you get into the routine all the boys around you help you through it.
"So just being a part of a team environment - it's exciting."
It's been a whirlwind few months for Hall, who only played his first game of AFL in reserves late last year.
From reaching the second-highest high jump leap in the southern hemisphere in March, four months later he was kicking goals for the Suns' reserves team against the Brisbane Lions. By September Hall had turned his back on athletics.
No one knows better than him that he's taken an immense gamble.
No matter the result today, Hall reckons it was worth taking. "I've just been enjoying myself so much."
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2011/12/13/290541_sport.html