Nicholas Graham and Tim Membrey, the only two Gippsland Power players to be taken in this year’s national draft, watched on from the former’s home in Traralgon tonight as their names were called by Carlton and Sydney respectively.

There too watching on was Nick Stevens, Carlton’s 104-game former midfielder and now, as coach of Gippsland Power, a great mentor to the kid, who was taken with Carlton’s third round selection.

“To get Nick at pick 54 is a steal,” Stevens said from Graham’s home last night. Throughout the year I spoke to Shane Rogers quite a bit about him because I really rate him highly.

“The beautiful thing about Nick is that he’s a really good solid midfielder who you can actually rest forward because he’s really strong overhead for his size,” Stevens said.

“His ability to win the ball contested and uncontested is first class. He’s got great skills, he’s really fit, he’s really good overhead for his size and he’s a quality young man. For someone coming into the system you won’t get any who’ll work harder and I think he’ll be an outstanding player.”

Nick, who took the 2012 Morrish Medal out almost 60 years after the late Dick Pratt did the deed at Carlton, said that he “thanked the Blues for the opportunity and can’t wait to have a crack”.

He also told of how comforting it was to be there with both Membrey and “Stevo”.

“Tim Membrey is my long-time best mate and it was good to have his company there because we’ve been through a lot together,” Nick said. “It’s hard to put into words this feeling.”

Though he is coming off a minor knee operation, Nick looked forward to making an immediate impact and had set his sights on making the cut for the opening round with Richmond, the team that until now he supported.

“I started running a week ago and am nearly back to full pace now,” Nick said. “Hopefully I can work in closely with the people at the club and before you know it I’ll be 100 per cent ready to go.”

Notwithstanding Stevens’ influence, Brian Graham, the 400-game Traralgon legend and Nick’s father, has also profoundly impacted on the boy.