How do you pick an AFL team?

Have you grown up barracking for them because your parents brainwashed you from a young age? Or maybe your father play for a team in the AFL?

Perhaps you grew up in the era where you jumped on the bandwagon of a particular team?

Foxfooty.com.au has compiled a list of some of the players who have nominated for the 2018 AFL draft and who the support and why.

Finals Week 1

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Living in a two-team state means the options were limited for key forward Jack Lukosius, but at one point in his life he was strong in his belief that he “hated Port”.

“I’m a Crows man. To be honest I always hated Port as a kid. I trained there over the pre-season and love it, so I love them now and don’t mind them at all. But if you’re a Crows fan, you’re certainly not a Port fan back in Adelaide,” Lukosius told foxfooty.com.au.

“My Pa is massive Port, so I think that made me want to go for the Crows. We had tonnes of banter when I was growing up. He wouldn’t let me in the house because I was a Crows supporter some times!”

If Carlton father-son Ben Silvagni didn’t follow the navy blues, there’s no doubting it’d be quite strange, considering his brother, dad, grandfather and cousin have all represented the club.

And he suggested to foxfooty.com.au that if he had of changed his mind at some point in his growing up, he’d “have to find another house to eat at”, with the whole family having Carlton blood in them.

It’s also no surprise Western Bulldogs father-son Rhylee West follows the red, white and blue — but Bailey Scott is in a different boat.

Scott’s father Robert played over 100 games for North Melbourne and Geelong, while he also spent time in the Gold Coast Suns academy.

He declared to foxfooty.com.au that he’s a North Melbourne supporter. Well, sort of … he barracks for Geelong as well!

“I can’t split them, but just love following them both,” Scott said with a laugh.

“Through the last couple of years, I’ve had a bit of interest in where the Suns go because I’ve had that chance to choose the Suns as my first club. In the end, I was following all three clubs with that interest that I could go to either of them.

“(But) our family, we haven’t been serious barrackers. It’s more been passionate about football. We’ll sit down and pretty much watch every game every week. It’s the love of the game more than a team.”

Of course, living in close proximity to the region your club trains in also helps — with Sandringham Dragons prospects Max and Ben King, Harry Reynolds and Liam Stocker all supporting St Kilda — who call Moorabbin home, which is just a few minutes drive from the Dragons’ training ground.

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Best mates Max and Ben King both support St Kilda. Photo: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

Hawthorn next generation academy prospect Irving Mosquito grew up a Bombers supporter but declared Cyril Rioli was one of his “biggest idols” and was able to meet him when at Hawthorn.

Some prospects are born into it, like Bailey Williams, who is surrounded by a family of Magpies supporters.

But kids don’t always support clubs from the same state they are born in.

Possible top 15 pick Riley Collier-Dawkins is a Sydney Swans fan, after his mum was a South Melbourne supporter growing up.

While surprisingly of all, Connor Rozee doesn’t support either South Australian club and supports St Kilda.

“(It’s a) bit of a weird one growing up in Adelaide,” he told foxfooty.com.au.

“Dad was a St Kilda supporter and his dad was a St Kilda supporter, so just following the dream. They are from country South Australia, so I think it stems back to the VFL or something like that.”

And while many academy prospects have jumped on-board to the club they are tied too, Brisbane Lions academy member Connor McFadyen might have to make the switch.

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Sam Walsh is set to be the No. 1 pick. Photo: Tony Gough. Source: News Corp Australia

“I’m a Geelong supporter. I don’t even think the Lions know, to be honest,” McFadyen said with a laugh.

“Geelong’s always been my team since I was young. But this year, I’ve sort of been leaning the Lions’ way and barracking for them.”

As for the likely No. 1 pick Sam Walsh? He’s a Brisbane Lions fan.

“So Dad’s twin brothers, who are younger than him, they were mad Fitzroy growing up. When I was born, they brainwashed me and took me to a lot of AFL games when Brisbane were up and about and winning lots,” he told foxfooty.com.au.

“It probably made my decision a bit easier. And growing up in the southwest with Jonathan Brown, you look up to him and it’s pretty cool.”

WHAT AFL CLUBS POTENTIAL DRAFTEES SUPPORT:

Nick Blakey — Sydney Swans

James Blanck — Western Bulldogs

Kieren Briggs — GWS

Oscar Brownless — Geelong

Zak Butters — Western Bulldogs

Jye Caldwell — St Kilda

Jordan Clark — West Coast Eagles

Riley Collier-Dawkins — Sydney Swans

Joel Crocker — North Melbourne

Xavier Duursma — Brisbane Lions

Jackson Hately — Collingwood

Ian Hill — Fremantle

Will Kelly — Collingwood

Ben King — St Kilda

Max King — St Kilda

Jack Lukosius — Adelaide Crows

Connor McFadyen — Geelong Cats

Ned McHenry — Western Bulldogs

Tom McKenzie — Hawthorn

Jez McLennan — Brisbane Lions

Irving Mosquito — Essendon

Xavier O’Halloran — Western Bulldogs

Isaac Quaynor — Collingwood

Izak Rankine — Adelaide Crows

Harry Reynolds — St Kilda

Connor Rozee — St Kilda

Bailey Scott — North Melbourne and Geelong Cats

Lachlan Sholl — Carlton

Ben Silvagni — Carlton

Bailey Smith — Hawthorn

Liam Stocker — St Kilda

Sam Walsh — Brisbane Lions

Rhylee West — Western Bulldogs

Bailey Williams — Collingwood

— with Ben Waterworth

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