Category B rookie Malakai Champion has revealed the sudden moment of realisation that determined he could make his AFL dreams a reality.
It was one day in 2019, as Champion remembers, that the West Coast Eagles' Next Generation Academy, monikered the Naitanui Academy after Eagles great Nic, came down to the teenager's hometown in Kalgoorlie for a training session. Champion, who admittedly went to train and play for "fun", was approached by the Eagles' academy recruiters after a standout session.
"The Naitanui program came to Kalgoolrie. They came there in about 2019 and hosted a training session, and I guess I trained pretty well that they wanted me to sign up for the Naitanui Academy," Champion reflected.
"I thought it was just for the fun of it, just playing alongside Indigenous players at first because obviously, I come from Kalgoorlie, not coming to all the trainings here (at Lathlain Park), not learning all the stuff that they learn here so I just thought I was coming up to play footy for fun."
But a move to Perth in 2020 with hopes to solidify his opportunities with the Naitanui program led to a lightbulb moment that motivated Champion to take the chance with both hands.
"Once I moved down here and played for the Academy and once I got told I'm allowed to train I thought 'Wow, this might be the way I can be on an AFL list'," Champion said.
On November 22, Champion was officially announced as an academy graduate, following in the footsteps of life-long friend Tyrell Dewar as a Category B rookie signing on the Eagles' list.
Dewar signed as a Category B rookie too in 2022, and made his debut for the Eagles last season, playing seven matches across the year.
Dewar and fellow Indigenous teammate Tim Kelly surprised Champion at his Kalgoorlie home with the exciting news - a moment Champion will never forget.
"It was great seeing (Tim Kelly and Tyrell Dewar) rock up. It had to be Tyrell out the front door knocking and we just started laughing and started smiling," Champion said.
"It was a good feeling seeing him and Tim come to the house.
"It meant everything especially for Tyrell to come down since we've known each other our whole life."
Champion admits he's had his work cut out for him as he transitions into the full-time life of AFL athlete, but is loving the process as he aims to forge a long career in the blue and gold.
"The training standard here was elite, just like what you see on the AFL field," Champion said.
"I just got it into my game straight away that you've got to be clean and give the first option off because you won't have much time.
"The first couple of weeks they let us ease into it a lot, us first years, but the routine is good, it's basically like a full-time job, you're here from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm or 4 o'clock.
"What you do is eat, sleep, and train really, the days you have off, the first years' can't really do anything 'cause they're just very tired getting into the routine.
"The thing I enjoy about it is you get paid to do the thing you love, to do the gym, to talk to the coaches, just to train and play footy you get paid for it, so I'm absolutely loving it. The work's been hard but I'm seeing very good improvements."
