Ethan Drever had absolutely no choice on his AFL team. As a newborn he was put in an Essendon jumper at the hospital and he's been a Bomber ever since.
It's been a rough 18 years of fandom since, and he's got some thoughts about his dad's decision.
"I'm [born in] 2008, I haven't seen anything!" he tells ESPN with a grin - and a grimace.
"Dad tells me about his success and I'm like, 'You don't have to rub it in like that.'"
The Dons are entering a new era in 2027 under Mark McVeigh and it's being driven through the draft. They snagged Sullivan Robey, Jacob Farrow, and Dyson Sharp in the first round 12 months ago and now own pick 1 in the upcoming draft.
Drever also has a lot of thoughts about those drafted before him.
"They've got some good young boys in there now. Robey, Sharp, they're gonna be so good.
"I like Farrow. He should be kicking in and doing all that, he needs to be in priority positions. That's what he's gonna be doing in the future.
"Just that halfback, I reckon he's gonna be really good... he's a beautiful left foot kick."
After a dour two-win season the Bombers have first call on Drever, with the 188cm on-baller strongly linked at the top of the board.
He's an electric runner with the intent to tackle, chase, and pressure - something that hasn't been a trait of Essendon's list for a long time.
Asked what he thinks when watching his boyhood club each weekend, Drever's response would prick the ears of all Bombers fans.
"It'd be nice to be out there and sort of help the boys out, that's kinda what I'm thinking!"
The Vic Country MVP and Rebels best and fairest produced a remarkable season. His star has risen from a first-round chance to the very top of the open pool.
He may have the most translatable traits to AFL level of any prospect. Drever is an elite power athlete, recording a 2.92 second 20 metre sprint which comes across in the tape. He bursts out of the contest with driving legs and loves to exit forward of the stoppage to inflict maximum damage.
His ultra consistent season has come about without any injury concerns, something all other top prospects this year haven't been able to say.
"It's been good not to have to sit on the sidelines this year at all and I can just keep playing consistent footy," he says.
"I only missed one [game] which was just after champs, I just had a break."
Drever lays claim to a pretty handy trademark. On six separate occasions this season he's collected the ball -- either out of a stoppage or in open play -- and powered away from opponents into the forward half of the ground.
From there his long running gait and elite top speed helps him separate from chasing defenders and break the paint of 50 to drive home sensational goals.
Ethan Drever does his thing with a signature running goal from 50 https://t.co/qMwOB4Gf9v
— Footy Stuff (@FootyStuffYT) July 3, 2026
"I have heard it's called the trademark goal now. I don't know where that's really come from, it's just a natural thing I guess. I just like to run and have a ping from outside 50," Drever tells ESPN.
"Definitely one of my traits is just my power, especially this year. Building up over the pre-season and definitely my two-way running.
"It's the long-term goal to move into the midfield and be a bit of a Jordan Dawson with his two-way running. I love Finn Callaghan, how he plays. Those two are really great role models for me.
"I think Hugh McCluggage as well, I've watched him a lot. I had a meeting with him this year, he's that sort of two-way runner as well and he's been really good for me."
Drever played 13 games for the Rebels this year in amongst commitments with the AFL Academy and Vic Country. He collected the ball 28 times to go with a goal a game, but he's not satisfied with just being an offensive weapon.
The Ballarat local is a tenacious presence in contests with the appetite to chase and tackle, racking up 6.5 per outing to frank his status as the best pure midfielder in the open pool.
At the draft combine he showed off a much-improved engine running a 6:27 minute 2km after going 20 seconds slower in the lead-up. It's a time that will put him towards the front of the pack on day one of pre-season.
Drever knows exactly what's required to be a midfielder at the next level, and he's determined to get there as soon as possible.
"My endurance side was a big goal of mine, obviously at the top level you've just got to be able to run all day.
"Honing in on my fundamentals and trying to get them the best I can as well. That's what the most important thing is because it's the little one percenters that make a difference in the AFL.
Drever is now on the precipice of living out his dream of becoming an AFL player, and it could be for his boyhood club as the top choice in the open pool of the draft.
That won't matter to him, so long as he gets his opportunity to shine on the big stage.
"I don't really care [if I go at pick 1]. It's nice to have my name up in consideration alongside those boys but I'll just be happy to be picked up wherever I go."