TWELVE months ago, Port Lincoln footballer Johann Wagner was celebrating an A grade premiership with Tasman after a stellar season at club and representative level.
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A full year later, Mr Wagner is the newest recruit to the Port Adelaide Power after winning the inaugural season of Foxtel's reality show The Recruit.
Mr Wagner, 23, said it was a surreal feeling being announced as the winner and the fact that he was the newest player to join the AFL system still hadn't sunk in.
"I'm slowly getting there and trying to soak it all in," he said.
"It all went super quick and my heart was racing at one million miles an hour."
Mr Wagner was announced as the winner during the final episode on Wednesday night in a revolutionary live draft governed by the AFL.
After all 18 AFL clubs voted for the winner, Mr Wagner was able to choose which out of three clubs willing to draft him he would play for.
Mr Wagner said he felt privileged three clubs wanted him and when the clubs made their pitches the decision wasn't easy.
"To have three clubs nominate (to draft) me was huge and it was a very tough choice," he said.
"They all put up good pitches but when Kochy (Port Adelaide president David Koch) said his pitch, I couldn't say no."
As well as receiving a pitch from Port Adelaide, Mr Wagner received pitches from the Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western Sydney Giants.
AFL great Kevin Sheedy even offered to personally mentor Mr Wagner at the Giants.
Mr Wagner said it was the appeal of fulfilling a childhood dream with Port Adelaide and the direction the club was heading in that convinced him to head to Alberton.
As a child, Mr Wagner wrote a letter to himself in the future, which he opened at his 21st birthday.
In the letter, Mr Wagner told himself that at 21 he should be playing AFL football for the Power.
"When I was 21 years old and opened the letter, the dream was gone," he said.
"When I signed up (for The Recruit) I still didn't think it would come about.
"It still hasn't sunk in now."
Tasman Football Club coach Carl Semmler said the club was proud of how far Mr Wagner had come and was looking forward to more success.
"We're really proud of him and the way he's committed himself over the last 12 months," Mr Semmler said.
"The best part is he knows his best is still ahead of him."
Mr Wagner said he was looking forward to starting his pre-season with the Power but knows he's still "got a long way to go".
"I'm looking forward to getting out on the track and proving myself," Wagner said.
"The hard work gets harder now."