ASK Geelong draftee Jake Tarca how he is finding life on an AFL list, and it’s impossible to wipe the smile off his face.
“It’s a dream job. I think it’s the best job in the world,” he said.
“It’s a childhood dream. I wanted to do it for a long time.
“So it’s good to be here and see how it works behind the scenes.”
Taken with pick No.68 by the Cats in last year’s National Draft, the small forward knew there would be a step-up in intensity on the training track.
However, Tarca, who hails from Encounter Bay about an hour south of Adelaide, admits he’s still getting his head around some of the off-field factors.
“It’s more so the stuff outside of playing the game,” he said.
“Finances; you don’t realise how much money you love through tax. You’ve got to be pretty smart with it.
“We’ve had a few sessions on that. It’s a real eye-opener to being more mature with your money.”
Having Nathan Krueger at the club, who the Cats selected before the draft in a deal with Carlton, has helped Tarca settle in.
“We grew up with each other; the same school, played with each other at South Adelaide, and against each other in local football,” he said.
“I thought “this (being drafted) is really realistic now” after seeing him get there.
“Before he left to come over here, I caught up with him, and he said how much he wanted me to make it as well.
“It’s an ideal situation. We were just talking about it a week before the draft that if I came here, it would be awesome.”
Tarca, who enjoys surfing in his spare time and has done some DJ work back home, is now working on developing his body to play at AFL level.
“I’m definitely working on my aerobic base,” he said.
“Just getting more running into me so I can play that high forward, possibly midfield, role.
“And a bit of size as well in the gym; getting stronger in the core and the hips.”
Twitter: @tom_king79
