The Cobden footballer was last night taken by Essendon in the 2011 AFL draft, with the Bombers using pick 31 in the second round to secure the midfielder.

Minutes after hearing his name called while watching the broadcast on television in his Cobden home, the modest 18-year-old was overwhelmed.

“I suppose it’s going to take a little while to sink in,” he told The Standard last night.

“Just looking now, there’s people coming through our gate. It’s hard to believe that they’re all coming here for me.”

Prior to people pouring through the gate to celebrate, Merrett shared the life-changing moment with his parents Cathy and Greg, his younger brother Zach, who made a special trip home from boarding school in Melbourne, his grandparents Tessie and Anthony and his girlfriend Remeny McCann.

“We were all just sitting there watching and straight after the end of the first round, my name popped up,” he said.

“It was a bit surprising.

“Everyone was pretty excited. There were hugs and kisses and smiles and a few tears.”

And did the Geelong Falcons graduate’s eyes water after learning of his fate?

“No, no — I just had a big smile,” he said.

“All the hard work and the hours you put into it, it’s all finally paid off.”

Merrett knows there is countless hours of hard work to come as he aims to establish himself as an AFL footballer.

“Ever since I was young, I’ve wanted to play AFL,” he said.

“When I was four or five, I started Auskick and since then it has been a dream.

“Now it’s come true and the hard work begins.”

While the Vic Country representative was unsure exactly when he would move to Melbourne, he revealed he visited the big smoke last Sunday for his final meeting with an AFL club.

The last of the 12 clubs who the speedy midfielder met with was the Bombers. “They said that if I was still around with their second pick, they would be happy to take me,” he said.

And that’s exactly what happened, with Merrett looking forward to playing under Essendon favourite son, Bombers coach James Hird.

“He is one of the greats of the game, so it’s going to be a great experience,” he said.

“Hopefully I’ll learn a lot from him and he’ll be able to pass on some advice that will help me better my game.”

While there is already plenty of red-and-black clothing in the teenager’s wardrobe because of Cobden, there hasn’t been any need for Essendon gear.

Until now. “I did barrack for North Melbourne but not anymore,” he said with a laugh.

Last night marked the second draft in three years that players from Cobden football club had been snapped up by AFL clubs.

“It shows that they’re good at developing young players, having three players drafted in the last three years,” Merrett said of his local club.

“They expose players to a higher level at a young age and give them the opportunity to play there.

“That enables players to step up their footy.

“I haven’t played under 18 footy (for Cobden) in three years.” Merrett, who made his debut in Hampden league seniors as a ripe 16-year-old in 2009, joins Ben Cunnington (North Melbourne) and Gary Rohan (Sydney) as Cobden’s draftees in the past three years.

The latter duo were top-10 picks in 2009.

“I’m pretty good friends with Gary,” Merrett said.

“He actually sent me a text message just before my name got called out, just saying he was nervous for me.

“I had spoke to him a couple of times about (the draft) and he sent me a message (yesterday) morning.

“It will be good now to be able to talk to him about it all and get some advice.”

For the other south-west draft prospects who did not hear their names called last night, there is another chance to be picked up in the AFL rookie draft on December 13.