MITCH King’s ears have only just stopped ringing.

The Murray Bushrangers ruckman was sitting at home with his family watching the AFL draft on Tuesday night when pick No.42 was called by Melbourne.

“Mum just started screaming,” King said.

“It was pretty surreal.

“I didn’t know how to react.

“It was awesome.”

While the 199-centimetre Wodonga giant had spoken to Melbourne and several other AFL recruiters in the lead-up to the draft, he thought his best shot was in Friday’s rookie draft.

”I had an idea Melbourne were looking at me a bit but it was a shock they used pick No.42 as they had a later one up their sleeve,” he said.

“I was more looking at the rookie draft.

“That was the message I was getting from the clubs and stuff so it was a real bonus.”

King met with Melbourne officials on Wednesday to discuss his relocation to Melbourne and is looking forward to being reunited with Murray Bushrangers teammate Clayton Oliver.

Oliver was one of the draft bolters after being snapped up at No.4.

“He did really well,” King said.

“It will be awesome having a good mate at the club.

“I have known Clayton since the under-12s when he played for Echuca in the basketball.

“He was a fiery red head.”

While King would happily have moved inter-state to chase his AFL dream, he said it was “a bonus” being selected by the Paul Roos-coached Demons.

“I was speaking with a few inter-state clubs and mum wasn’t too keen on that,” he said.

“It was always going to be an unbelievable opportunity wherever I went but I guess it’s a bonus being at Melbourne which isn’t too far away from home.

“They are such a great club so it’s awesome.”

King will be the second M. King on Melbourne’s list after the Demons chose fellow Murray Bushranger, Max, as a rookie last year.

“Max sent me a message this morning welcoming me,” he said.

Melbourne recruiting manager Jason Taylor said King’s continued improvement in the TAC Cup had caught the Demons attention.

“Mitch performed really well this year, after coming off an ACL,” he said.

“He comes with really good character and his ruck craft has continued to grow throughout the year.

“He’s a ruckman who gets around the ground and hunts the ball, and helps his teammates.

“We think he’s got the scope to become a pretty good ruckman in time.”