HAD KAYNE Turner been born just six hours later, he would likely be playing for the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup next year while completing year 12 at Tallangatta Secondary College.
Instead, the new North Melbourne rookie will be the youngest player on any AFL list, juggling his final year of school with life as a professional sportsman.
The Kangaroos selected the 17-year-old – who will not turn 18 until New Year's Eve – with pick 25 in Wednesday's rookie draft, having kept a close eye on him this season.
He was in a year 11 maths class when text messages told him the good news.
Turner has been a fast riser.
In 2012 he was playing football in the Tallangatta league, almost unheard of by AFL recruiters.
This season, he joined two of his brothers at the Wodonga Bulldogs in the much stronger Ovens and Murray League, and won immediate admirers for the way he attacked the ball despite his slender 67kg frame.
One of those admirers was Gary Ziebell, father of North Melbourne midfielder and former Bulldogs junior Jack.
Gary alerted the Kangaroos about the apparently fearless youngster, and they began to take notice – first as he overcame a broken arm to play some excellent senior football at Wodonga, and then as he was picked up by the Bushrangers and continued his strong form there.
Having selected three players at last week's NAB AFL Draft who could all make an immediate impact – Luke McDonald, Trent Dumont and Ben Brown – North Melbourne felt it had space for a project player with its final rookie pick, and gave Turner a chance.
"He's a great kid," Wodonga coach Ben Hollands said.
"He's a courageous little bugger.
"There's not much of him, but he plays without fear.
"He's courageous in the air, and he's got some efforts that you just don't see from young skinny kids all that often – that's what sets him apart.
"We're all really excited for him."
Turner's last day of year 11 is this Friday, and he will be at Arden Street by Monday.
He will move from his family's cattle farm near the small town of Kiewa, east of Wodonga, and finish VCE at a still-to-be-determined Melbourne school.
He will have the option of completing year 12 over two years to enable him to better balance the demands of study and football.
"We understand that for a boy of that age, completing his schooling is paramount, and the club will provide him with the flexibility to do that," North Melbourne recruiting manager Bryce Lewis said.
Although it's highly unlikely he'll be seen at senior level in the next year, the Kangaroos are confident they have a player of the future on their hands.
"He's a slightly built lad, but he's unconditional in his attack on the ball," Lewis said.
"He's got very good hands, he sees the game well, and he's got a lot of speed as well.
"We think he can play small back, small forward and even wing."
Turner's former coach Hollands says the jump to VFL level shouldn't pose a problem.
"The Ovens and Murray League is a strong-bodied competition, it's pretty mature, and he came in and handled that well," Hollands said.
"I've got no doubt he'll cope with VFL footy OK, and then hopefully with a bit of work he can get himself ready for AFL footy in the next couple of years."
