“IT’S a childhood dream come true.”

It was a nervous week for Carlton rookie Josh Honey as he waited for his name to be called in the 2019 NAB AFL Draft.

It wouldn’t be until Friday morning that Honey got his Navy Blue call-up when the damaging half-forward was selected with pick No.3 in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

The youngster had little indication he would end up at Ikon Park, reflecting on the morning’s experience when he arrived at the Club on Friday morning.

“It was pretty stressful, I didn’t get much sleep,” Honey said.

“It’s a childhood come true. I’m loving it. Meeting all the boys and getting all the gear is pretty good.

“I had a little bit of contact with them: I had a tour here a few weeks ago, but there wasn’t too much contact.”

The Western Jets product, whose breakaway speed and athleticism stood out, was eager to meet ‘role model’ Patrick Cripps when he arrived at the Club.

“Patty Cripps, I’ll be looking up him as a role model this year as a big-bodied midfielder,” he said.

“I see my strengths as my speed and power: I’ll hopefully transition into the midfield late in the year.”

The youngster will have to weather an old rivalry as he now calls Ikon Park home, despite growing up in a family of black and white. 

“They were pretty heartbroken: my uncle is a mad Collingwood supporter and so is the rest of my family,” he said.

“They’ll have to make a change!”