MELBOURNE’S Koltyn Tholstrup was never certain football would be his future.

Growing up in Esperance, the young Demon had long pictured a life on the farm - a path he discussed with Tayla Harris on the latest episode of The Dee Team.

The 21-year-old was offered the opportunity to move to Perth during Year 12 to pursue his football, but at the time, Tholstrup wasn’t ready to leave his agricultural ambitions behind.

“If footy doesn’t work, I’m just going to be a farmer,” he said.

It was only in the lead-up to his draft year that he decided to fully chase the game.

“It wasn’t until probably the year before my draft year [that] I was like, ‘I’m going to give this a crack,’” Tholstrup said.

He moved to Perth at the end of Year 12 and was selected by Melbourne with Pick 13 in the 2023 National Draft.

But the farm remains a significant part of Tholstrup’s story.

The WA product attended an agricultural school, where his two-week timetable blended ATAR subjects with hands-on work in farming and trades.

“I went to an ag school, so I did farming,” Tholstrup said.

“My school was actually very different to everyone. I went to Year 11 and 12 and had a two-week timetable.

“I was working toward an ATAR and would have two and a half days in class, and then we’d have two days either on the farm or in the trades.”

Tholstrup’s studies were tailored to the world he knew, with even maths classes drawing on agricultural examples.

“At my school, maths was tailored to farming,” he said.

“We’d go get a bit of land and work at the farm.”

Outside the classroom, Tholstrup built an impressive practical skillset, collecting certificates and even ribbons along the way.

“I’ve got certificates in shearing, working in the piggery,” he said.

“I’ve got a few ribbons over my time. Did sheep judging, did everything… cows, cropping, spraying.

From sheep judging and shearing competitions in Esperance to a long-term deal in red and blue, Tholstrup’s journey to the AFL has been anything but conventional.