Geelong welcomed seven draftees at the 2024 National and Rookie Draft. As they navigate their way through their first year in the AFL system, Geelong’s Rookie Journal written series will help you get to know some of the new faces at the Geelong Football Club and the stories that led them to become AFL footballers.   

Jacob Molier was the next player to sit down with Cats Media and he tells us about his journey from South Australia to Geelong. Molier recently pulled on the Hoops for the first time, featuring with Geelong's VFL program and booting four goals in just his second game last weekend. 

I grew up in a town in the Adelaide Hills called Woodside, I lived there all my life until I moved here.

I played all my junior football at Onkaparinga Valley Football Club, up until the Under 18's when I went out and played my football at Sturt. I also played a bit of cricket and volleyball throughout my high school years, I did play cricket from a young age as well.

I was actually eight months into a carpentry apprenticeship as well, before I got drafted here and now I get to play footy. 

Probably my first experience with football came when I was pretty young.

There was a SANFL juniors, similar to Auskick but it was for older ages and I did do a couple of years of that. It helps to expose you to being able to play on an actual AFL ground, because it was held at Adelaide Oval so I did that for a couple of years.

That gave me the realisation of what it would actually feel like to play in that stadium, but then getting here has been surreal. 

I wasn't very big on watching football for certain players, I was a team follower but over the last few years I have really liked watching Tom De Koning.

How he has really developed his game, going from an in and out player to now a main ruck role. I have watched him closely throughout the last few years, which I feel like it definitely put things into perspective on how I could improve my role, even back at Sturt.  

Halfway through last year, I had a meeting with my head coach.

He sat down and showed me a few clips and some vision on what to do, how to improve my game. Then he pointed out that the window was still open for me to possibly get drafted, which was about the time of year where I started to get a few calls from clubs.

It made me realise that I could have an AFL career, it definitely became an option in the near future rather than just a dream. 

Geelong was one of the first few clubs that reached out, I started getting more and more excited with each club that came out.

For a club like Geelong to reach out though, it felt very special and especially knowing what they have done for players in the past. 

It was definitely new, I had never even signed a contract before considering I was doing carpentry back at home. I walked in the doors here and signed that first contract and it was like yeah, this is real now. 

My family and friends have had a huge impact on where I am today, especially both of my parents.

They have been great supporters, people that I can fall back on and talk to, to help get me through certain stages, especially last year. Dad definitely did drive me throughout the back end of last year before the draft, he came to the combine with me and things like that.

With a few of my mates as well, they have kept me accountable and just helped me to stay true to myself, to focus on my goals and ultimately to get drafted. 

It still hasn't really sunk in yet. It is unreal still, I never really had any aspirations at the start of last year, I just wanted to play football and now it is my job. I am very, very fortunate to be here. 

When I have been up forward and working on my craft at training, Shannon Neale and Jeremy Cameron have been very helpful with positions and leading patterns.

They have been very willing to help me with my learning, they have definitely played a big part for me.