Young ruckman Nathan Vardy

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DRAFT night is nerve-wracking enough for any player who has nominated, but if you've been talked about as a first-rounder and the numbers get into the 30s, then it gets really tough.

That was the case for new Geelong recruit Nathan Vardy, who had been talked about as going in the first 17, was expected by many to be gone inside the first 25, but was still on the table after two full rounds.

Vardy admitted it was a tough evening, waiting to hear his name called at No.42.

"Leading up to the draft everyone was saying I'd be a first round pick, and when I slipped through the first round, then the second round, I was starting to think nobody knew my name," he told afl.com.au on Friday.

"I was getting a bit worried, but when it got called out it was unbelievable."

With no Foxtel at home, the 198cm, 89kg 17-year-old was forced to head out with his family and friends to follow the action.

"The pub went up when it happened - they were all happy with it," Vardy said.

"Then they lined up to shake my hand, give me hug, and all that.

"But it still hasn't sunk in today - I say to myself 'I play for the Geelong Football Club now' and it just seems weird to say."

Assistant coach Nigel Lappin has already called Vardy, as have a few players, and the former Gippland Power player is already looking forward to his first training session with the Cats.

An agile ruckman with excellent foot skills for his size, Vardy is very competitive and very strong overhead, and his tap work at clearances is a distinct strength.

A Vic Country U18 representative in 2009, Vardy is grateful to this dad for pushing him to work on his skills, something the bigger players aren't usually renowned for.

"My kicking is something I've been working on all my life - my dad said to me when I was about 10 that he wasn't going to let me play football unless I could kick as well on my left as I could on my right," Vardy said.

"So ever since then I've always practiced both sides of my body so I could play footy, and then it's just kept going from there."