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WHEN Adam Saad settles down to watch the NAB AFL Draft on Thursday, he might take a moment to reflect on his football journey.
Two years ago, Saad spent draft day nervously wondering if a club would call his name and anxious about a potential move interstate.
While the former Calder Cannon's AFL dream failed to materialise, the experience has relentlessly driven the 20-year-old.
Now coming off his best season, Saad believes he is ready to grab any opportunity that might fall his way, no matter where it takes him.
"I just want that opportunity and I don't really care where I go. I'll adapt," Saad told AFL.com.au.
"I'm ready for whatever comes, as long as I get my foot in the door and get that opportunity which I'm craving."
Click here to check out Adam Saad's draft profile and watch his 2014 highlights
Seven of his former Cannons teammates made their way to AFL clubs in the 2012 draft, including picks two and three Jonathon O'Rourke and Lachie Plowman.
Recruiters passed on speedy 178cm small forward/wingman Saad, who by his own admission didn't deliver consistently enough in the TAC Cup.
This time around, he's an attacking half-back flanker who shared Coburg's best and fairest and was named in the VFL's Team of the Year in 2014 despite an injury-interrupted pre-season.
But it's Saad's off-field growth that has equally impressed Coburg coach Peter German.
"I remember the start of pre-season with his injury after a couple of weeks I asked, 'Where's Adam Saad, is he here?' and they said, 'Yeah, yeah he's here, he's doing his rehab'. But I said, 'I never see him'," German told AFL.com.au.
"Every time I saw him and we caught eyes he just ducked around the corner. He was probably just a bit nervous – obviously a new coach, he was probably worried that he wasn't training.
"Since then he just comes and barges into my office. He's just got that confidence, he really has grown.
"He'll come in and he'll just start talking about footy and I kept thinking to myself, 'Gee, hasn't he come a long way in 12 months'."
It was during one of those chats that Saad took charge of his football career.
The agile goal-sneak wanted a switch to half-back, where he could use his dash and foot skills to set up attacks rather than finish them off.
Saad had next to no experience in the backline, but amazed German with his desperation not to be beaten.
"He doesn't like his opponent getting the ball. That was one of the key reasons he was so effective for us," he said.
"I think he likes challenges, that's probably the thing I've learnt about him in the last 12 months. If someone lays a challenge at his feet he's always up for it."
Saad's outstanding form earned him an invite to the state combine, where he blitzed the 20m sprint in 2.86 seconds and improved on most of his 2012 results.
His endurance needs more work, but his raw pace is exciting.
"I've only seen a few players in my time have the acceleration with their leg speed that he's got," German said.
"I coached Daniel Wells as a 16- or 17-year-old at Peel Thunder and Daniel had that ability to be change gears at any stage, and Adam's also got that … that obviously is a real weapon.
"He's still raw in many ways – even in life. He's led a nice family life and he's a good family person.
"If they want to take him interstate he's got to learn to deal with those sort of things."
Saad has spoken to four clubs – including one interstate team - since the combine, but he's trying to keep his expectations in check.
"I've had good feedback, they've just got to see what picks they have and which players go where and just to see if they get the player they want," he said.
"I don't like to talk myself up, I'll say (my chances are) 50-50.
"It's all a waiting game now, I guess."
Recruiters passed on speedy 178cm small forward/wingman Saad, who by his own admission didn't deliver consistently enough in the TAC Cup.
This time around, he's an attacking half-back flanker who shared Coburg's best and fairest and was named in the VFL's Team of the Year in 2014 despite an injury-interrupted pre-season.
But it's Saad's off-field growth that has equally impressed Coburg coach Peter German.
"I remember the start of pre-season with his injury after a couple of weeks I asked, 'Where's Adam Saad, is he here?' and they said, 'Yeah, yeah he's here, he's doing his rehab'. But I said, 'I never see him'," German told AFL.com.au.
"Every time I saw him and we caught eyes he just ducked around the corner. He was probably just a bit nervous – obviously a new coach, he was probably worried that he wasn't training.
"Since then he just comes and barges into my office. He's just got that confidence, he really has grown.
"He'll come in and he'll just start talking about footy and I kept thinking to myself, 'Gee, hasn't he come a long way in 12 months'."
It was during one of those chats that Saad took charge of his football career.
The agile goal-sneak wanted a switch to half-back, where he could use his dash and foot skills to set up attacks rather than finish them off.
Saad had next to no experience in the backline, but amazed German with his desperation not to be beaten.
"He doesn't like his opponent getting the ball. That was one of the key reasons he was so effective for us," he said.
"I think he likes challenges, that's probably the thing I've learnt about him in the last 12 months. If someone lays a challenge at his feet he's always up for it."
Saad's outstanding form earned him an invite to the state combine, where he blitzed the 20m sprint in 2.86 seconds and improved on most of his 2012 results.
His endurance needs more work, but his raw pace is exciting.
"I've only seen a few players in my time have the acceleration with their leg speed that he's got," German said.
"I coached Daniel Wells as a 16- or 17-year-old at Peel Thunder and Daniel had that ability to be change gears at any stage, and Adam's also got that … that obviously is a real weapon.
"He's still raw in many ways – even in life. He's led a nice family life and he's a good family person.
"If they want to take him interstate he's got to learn to deal with those sort of things."
Saad has spoken to four clubs – including one interstate team - since the combine, but he's trying to keep his expectations in check.
"I've had good feedback, they've just got to see what picks they have and which players go where and just to see if they get the player they want," he said.
"I don't like to talk myself up, I'll say (my chances are) 50-50.
"It's all a waiting game now, I guess."
