BRAD Mangan hit several roadblocks before getting his chance to bust into the AFL.
North Melbourne took Mangan with selection No. 28 in Tuesday's rookie draft after he impressed for Werribee in the Victorian Football League this year.
The key-position 20-year-old was overlooked in the 2009 National Draft and, by his own admission, struggled with the move from home in Kyabram to Werribee the following year.
Mangan managed just two senior games for the Tigers and suffered a broken jaw late in the year.
But the Murray Bushrangers product engineered a stunning transformation this season and was vital in the Tigers' revival.
Mangan was Werribee's best player during the finals and held former AFL pair Brendan Fevola and Mitch Hahn goalless in successive weeks to put his name up in lights.
Mangan spent the fortnight before the rookie draft training with the Kangaroos, but he never thought gaining a spot on an AFL list was a fait accompli.
"I'm over the moon and very, very happy. All the hard work has finally paid off, so I'm stoked," Mangan told Leader.
Click HERE to view the full article from Leader's Luke D'Anello.
* Under North Melbourne's partial alignment with Werribee and North Ballarat, Mangan will remain with Werribee until/if he is upgraded from his rookie status during 2012
Last Modified on 10/01/2012 16:24