An apprentice carpenter and landscape gardener has a rare shot at building a career in the AFL after being spotted by former Essendon star Mark McVeigh.
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Daniel Lloyd thought his opportunity to become a professional football player has passed him by. However, when McVeigh - an assistant coach at the GWS Giants - spotted him at one of his weekend games for Killarney Vale and liked what he saw, the process towards Lloyd's selection in Friday's rookie draft was set in motion.
"It was surprising, very surprising at first," Lloyd said. "As a 23-year-old I thought my time playing professional AFL footy was gone. So it was a surprise but I was very, very excited when he approached me. It was really good news."
Lloyd has been training with the Giants for the past three weeks. He described it as "very very challenging" in comparison to his previous sporting lifestyle, which consisted of Tuesday and Thursday afternoon training sessions and a game on Saturdays.
"Coming from that to training everyday, the workload is a lot, lot higher than what I'm used to, but I've handled it pretty well I think," he said. "It's been a good experience ... but very rewarding at the same time. The boys here have really welcomed me, and it's been really good. I've really enjoyed it."
Lloyd, who has two children and a fiancee, had been working as a landscape gardener when McVeigh offered him the chance of a lifetime.
"It was a thing that I wanted to do, construction, carpentry, I enjoyed doing it, that was the avenue I was going down because this opportunity wasn't here. But now that it is, I'd much rather be doing this, than be doing that.
"It's a chance to play AFL footy that I thought was gone, and it's always been a dream of mine, so I'm just stoked that I get the chance to play. It's a good chance for my family to live a good and happy life.
GWS rookie Daniel Lloyd spotted by asst. coach Mark McVeigh who pulled on the boots on the central coast this year, great story @AFL— Adam Curley (@AdamCurleyMedia)
November 27, 2015
"I just want to stay on the track, for one, not get injured, and try and break into the senior side. If there's a possibility or a chance, I just really want to get to play in top level. Trying to get a game in the senior side is my aim. Apart from that, I just want to be playing good footy.
"I still have to pinch myself. A couple of months ago, I had no idea that I would be in this position, and to be here today is still a bit surreal. Hopefully it will sink in over the next few weeks."
