BRENTON Payne loves his greyhounds, has a likeable country twang and enjoys a game of cricket.

He was forced to sit through the entire 2014 National Draft and then most of the following week’s Rookie Draft, before he heard his name read out.

Understandably, he was as delighted as he was relieved when St Kilda Recruiting Manager Tony Elshaug read out his name.

“I was pretty emotional for a few days after the National Draft,” Payne told SAINTS.com.au.

“At the rookie draft when the Saints pulled out my name with pick 37 I was over the moon. It was the best day of my life.”

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Just four days later, he was in New Zealand on a pre-season camp. When reflecting on a whirlwind week, he could not hide his gratitude that his dream had come true.

“My first day here I met the skipper and all the senior players, you watch them on TV and then here you are every day with them, its’ amazing,” Payne told SAINTS.com.au

“It’s been the best six of months of my life so far getting to meet the people I have met and being able to play footy as my job… It’s been a dream come true.”

Payne, who grew up in Bacchus Marsh in Victoria, is the same height as Nick Riewoldt. Unlike his skipper, Payne is not yet a powerful key forward. In reality, he is still years away from being able to hold down a key position like his childhood hero Matthew Lloyd.

But like Riewoldt, Payne possesses an elite aerobic capacity. He is able to run all day and has played half-back, half-forward and on the wing so far this season for Sandringham.

Western Jets Regional Manager Shane Sexton spoke highly of Payne towards the end of last season.

“He’s in the development category and he’s going to take a bit of time… we expect him to become a pretty good player,” Sexton said.  

“He could end up a good one."

Brenton Payne played an important role across half-forward against Port Melbourne.

As far as development goes, Payne is acutely aware that he remains a ‘work in progress.’

“Obviously I’ve still got a lot of development to go, I’m still learning the game and I’ve got a fair bit of body weight still to put on,” he said with refreshing honesty.

“Playing AFL isn’t one of the greatest worries for me at the moment as I’m more of a long term prospect.

“The aim is to be more of a key position player. At the moment I’m playing more on the half-forward, half-back flank due to my size, but being able to run long distances can help as I can play a fair few positions.”

Off the field, the former Victorian under 17 cricketer is not into technology or gadgets. While footy has been his life for the last six months, and he has loved every day, he still enjoys getting away and winding down.

“I now live in Sandringham just near the beach in a pretty good spot with a host family so I couldn’t be much happier,” he said.

“When I don’t have footy I just try to chill out as much as I can and try not get caught up as much with the stresses of football. I get back home and see the family whenever, because obviously I miss that a fair bit.

“I like getting out on the golf course with my mates. I have a pretty casual sort of lifestyle outside of football.”

Payne loves his greyhounds.

And then there are his greyhounds – a lifelong interest that developed into a passion as he matured.

“Ever since I’ve been little I’ve had greyhounds around the home, they’re just bit of fun to have when they’re pups and then to see them when they’re racing and if they have a win it gives you a bit of smile,” he said.

“We’ve got three running and have had a couple of wins lately, that’s been a bit of fun with the old man.

“Dad and I don’t get to see each other that much since I moved away so we get to go the dogs or just have a muck around [when I go home]. It’s good to have time bonding with each other.”

Payne has a strong football pedigree. His grandfather, Charlie Payne, had played in a VFL premiership for Essendon and topped the Bombers’ goalkicking by the time he was 18. He played in two flags and played 184 games in total.

“Growing up I was a Bombers supporter because my grandfather played for the Bombers back in the 60s and won two premierships,” he said.

“Lloydy (Matthew Lloyd) was always my favourite player because he kicked bags of goals and was the player I always wanted to be like.”

Payne bowling during a representative cricket game.