Tanner Bruhn was left “gobsmacked” when in an interview with the Adelaide Crows recently.
The Geelong Falcons and Vic Country midfielder says he was surprisingly asked a question relating to recently-signed Essendon youngster Jye Caldwell and cricket.
Bruhn, who is being tipped to go in the top 10 in next month’s AFL National Draft, admits it was a bit “bizarre” to answer such a query.
“Adelaide asked me how would I get Jye Caldwell out in cricket,” he said on SEN’s The Sporting Capital.
“Which just come out of nowhere. I was gobsmacked.”
The connection is that Bruhn and Caldwell both attended Geelong Grammar and did play some cricket together.
“I used to play with him. He went to Geelong Grammar and I’m studying there now,” he said of the Caldwell connection.
“But it was just out of the blue, just one of those bizarre ones.”
Bruhn explained how he responded.
“It just came to my mind straight away, I thought this is bloody bizarre,” he added.
“I just said LBW I think. He’s been out LBW a few times so I just threw that one in there.”
And how did the Crows recruiters react?
“They sort of watch you closely just to see how you respond,” he said further.
“I think (to see) if you crumble under the pressure, if you look curious or little things like that, your body language as well.
“They started talking about cricket as well. They really got into it asking, ‘What’s your highest score?’, ‘Off how many balls?’
“I think I’d faced almost 200 balls and they were like, ‘Nice, that’s good, shows you’re patient’.”
As for his exploits on the footy field, Bruhn says he has been keeping close tabs on a certain West Coast midfielder in order to draw inspiration.
“I’ve been watching Luke Shuey the last five or so years,” he said when asked how he plays.
“I’m a West Coast supporter so I’ve been keeping a close eye on him.
“He’s someone I model my game on.”
AFL Media draft guru Cal Twomey has Bruhn ranked at pick 7 on his latest phantom list ahead of the National Draft on December 9.