NEW Greater Western Sydney signing Anthony Miles yesterday admitted securing his spot on an AFL list still hadn’t sunk in.
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But the Murray Bushrangers vice-captain said the reality would certainly hit home if, as expected, GWS is granted a spot in next year’s NAB Cup.
Last month, the AFL announced GWS may play in its radical new NAB Cup format proposed for next year, which is set to accommodate the introduction of the two new franchises — GWS and Gold Coast.
If the idea gets the green light, Miles could be locking horns with some of his AFL heroes in less than a year, a fact not lost on the Albury High School student.
“I’m really excited, it’s something I’ve worked towards since I was six years old, but I guess it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Miles said yesterday of his signing.
“I know we (GWS) might be playing in the NAB Cup next year, and that’s when it will really sink in I think.
“To be running around with blokes you see on TV, lining-up on them, will be pretty amazing if it happens.”
The NSW-ACT Rams captain signed the contract last week after mulling over whether to accept GWS’s offer, or take his chances in the AFL draft.
But a recent visit to GWS headquarters at Blacktown put the decision beyond doubt.
“They started speaking to me about a month ago and I had to sort out whether I wanted to sign or head into the draft,” the ball-winning midfielder said.
“You take a bit of a chance heading into the draft — clubs can tell you they’ll draft you, but it’s a bit of an unknown.
“A few other boys signed straight away but I wanted to make sure I was completely happy and fully-committed to the idea.
“Then I went up to the club to see its facilities and hear about what it could provide and it changed my perspective a bit.”
Miles is the third Bushranger to sign with GWS, with his teammates Mark Whiley and Sam Schulz putting pen to paper last week.
The trio will all finish their schooling and move to Sydney in early November.
GWS also announced the signing of Leeton midfielder Kurt Aylett and the Northern Territory’s Shaun Edwards yesterday.