Tom, 18, is the oldest of their four boys - Joshua is 17 and Will, 15 (both also playing with the Giants Academy) while Lachlan is 10. "There's always a ball being thrown around the house," Mel said.

Tom, went to Marist College and played AFL for the school since he moved to Canberra from Townsville in year 6.

He finished year 12 last year. His birthday was in January so he was too young for last year's draft. And he was kept busy for the year.

He enrolled part-time in uni studying a double degree in international relations/politics and arts.

He also cleaned the offices at Brindabella Podiatry, where Mel is a podiatrist. Dad Richard is an army officer and helicopter pilot. Tom also worked part-time for Glascott Landscape and Civil.

Mel said Tom had sacrificed a lot to make his AFL dream come true, including missing a lot of parties.

"For him to put in the effort and to see something come from it, he should be very proud of himself," she said.

So does he have a favourite dish from mum? What does he like to eat?

"A lot is the short answer," Mel said, with a laugh.

"He's very unfussy. He loves fish and salads. Mediterranean and Greek dishes. He doesn't have a sweet tooth but he does like orange cake and chocolate cake."