LUKE Partington says he never wanted to let the personal tragedy he experienced in February derail his goal of becoming an AFL footballer.
Partington was drafted to West Coast with pick No.28 in last week's NAB AFL Draft, less than 10 months after his father Brian died in a mining accident.
Luke was living in Adelaide at the time of his father's passing and had to travel home to the small South Australian town of Tumby Bay, 50km north of Port Lincoln, to be with his family.
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Despite initially needing some time away from football, he returned to Adelaide and had an exceptional season, earning All Australian honours for his under-18 championships with South Australia as well as performing at senior level for Norwood in the SANFL.
Partington said he was delighted to be drafted to the Eagles given the year he had experienced.
"It's been a rollercoaster year for me," Partington said.
"To finish off this way is pleasing.
"It never really crossed my mind that I'd ever give up footy. I was always going to get back into Adelaide and continue pursuing football as a career.
"It was just a process that I put in place. I set out in my mind what I needed to do and I knew that it would take time and I didn't set expectations too high. I just followed that process, and fortunately enough for me it was able to go to plan and here I am."
The move to Perth won't be a big stretch for the 18-year-old given he has lived away from home for several years.
West Coast already features a bevy of South Australians, including skipper Shannon Hurn and premiership player Sam Butler. Partington said he hoped to follow in their footsteps.
"My teammates have been saying all the SA boys that come to Perth seem to stay here," Partington said.
"Hopefully that's a good sign."
The talented inside midfielder averaged 24 disposals at the under-18 championships but he also possesses great speed and elite endurance. He recorded a 2.96-second 20m sprint and 14.1 beep test at the NAB AFL Combine.
His hero growing up was dual-Brownlow medallist and West Coast premiership skipper Chris Judd.
"I loved watching him play," Partington said.
"He was explosive and he'd just damage teams on the scoreboard as well as anywhere around the ground.
Partington said he hoped to learn from another Brownlow medallist in Matt Priddis, but he also admitted he had followed Fremantle midfielder Lachie Neale closely.
"(I've) just watched him play over the last couple of years and watched the way he's developed through the ranks really well and become a really good player," Partington said.
"We're a similar height, a similar weight and are similar types of players."
