Western Bulldogs mid-season draftee Caleb Poulter had to fight his way back onto an AFL list after being cut by Collingwood last off-season.
Poulter, who was originally taken with pick No. 30 in the 2020 Draft, played 12 games for Collingwood across 2021 and 2022 before being delisted.
Reflecting on his time at the Magpies Poulter believes the main reason he was cut was due to Collingwood’s strength in his primary position.
“As you know, obviously my primary role was sort of on that wing,” Poulter explained on SEN Mornings.
“There’s Steele Sidebottom and Josh Daicos (at Collingwood) who are probably in the top five best players at the Pies for the past couple of years, so that sort of pushed me back a bit.
“I thought I found some form playing VFL down there, but it just didn't work out in the end.
“I wish them luck, but I’m excited for the opportunity of the Doggies.
“I think it's probably a blessing in disguise.”
Poulter found out that he was delisted over the phone while holidaying in Bali and the 20-year-old said he was devastated upon hearing the news.
“Yeah, I was flat as,” Poulter said.
“I think devastated is the right word. I was obviously top 30 in the draft, so you think you'd probably be a chance for another year contract maybe.
“I had two years at the Pies, I had a great time and met some lifelong friends but it is what it is.
“I was definitely devastated at the time, but I’m obviously happy where I am now.”
Once he left Collingwood, Poulter had a decision to make, either head home to South Australia or have another crack at the top level by playing VFL.
Poulter eventually landed at Whitten Oval with the Footscray in the VFL and he says the club’s record of recruiting players from their state-league side played into his decision.
“Yeah, for sure (the Bulldogs’ record of recruiting players from their VFL played into the decision),” Poulter said.
“I think they've had four or five mid-season draftees in the past three or four years.
“They’ve obviously produced a fair amount of players, so that definitely went into consideration.”
While the Bulldogs flagged an interest in upgrading him to their AFL squad in the lead-up to the draft, Poulter says he only learned of the good news 15 minutes before the draft kicked off on Wednesday night.
“They sort of kept under wraps, to be honest,” Poulter said.
“I obviously met with them and that sort of means that they're interested.
“But I was sort of 50-50 going into the day.
“We played up in Darwin against the Suns in the VFL on the weekend and I had an absolute stinker, so I was a little bit less confident.
“Wednesday was probably the longest day of my life I reckon, but it was good to be able to get the phone call about 15 minutes before (the draft).”
Poulter was one of two former AFL players selected in the mid-season draft with ex-Cat Quinton Narkle joining Port Adelaide.