Emerging North Melbourne forward Paul Curtis has revealed he refrained from telling teammates and staff at the club that he was a father until his son Elijah was six months old.

And when he did, most people didn’t believe him.

Now 22, the young star has the full support of his club and he regrets how he navigated the situation.

“I’m a pretty insular person. I just didn’t feel the need to tell everyone,” he told AFL.com.au.

“It is a really special thing, but there was maybe the thought that I wasn’t trying to have one and people are super proud to try and proud when they do have one. I, of course, am as well. It was just how I handled it.”

Curtis didn’t feel comfortable merging the footy world with his journey through fatherhood.

Sharing custody of Elijah with his former partner Michaela, the forward was shocked to learn of her pregnancy over the phone at the end of his debut year in 2022 as they had split months earlier.

“We had been together for about five years, but hadn’t spoken for a little bit by then when she let me know,” he said.

“It was definitely a big surprise.”

Curtis told close family he was set to become a father, but not many others.

Afraid of how his young child might impact his football career or the perception among others, the first mention of his expectant baby to teammates came on a trip to Europe. But he didn’t want the news shared.

After Elijah was born in early 2023, Curtis looked to lock in a spot in North’s AFL side and still hadn’t let many at the club in on his personal development.

However, as he slowly brought people in on the secret after several months, he felt more comfortable sharing it.

“Telling people was the hardest thing for me. Once I told everyone, it was a weight off my shoulders,” he said.

‘Clarko’ (coach Alastair Clarkson) actually guessed it to be fair. I pulled him aside for a chat and I was like, ‘Oh Clarko, I’ve got something to tell ya, it’s pretty exciting for me’ and he’s like, ‘You’ve got a baby!’ And I said ‘Yeah!’”

But when he did let it out, not everyone believed him.

In fact, most thought it was some kind of prank.

“A lot of the boys thought I was joking. I’d tell them out on the track and they’d ask me for birth certificates and photos. And even when I showed them photos, they’d still think it was my brother’s kid,” he said.

“We did a lot of setting up the camera and having the boys walk in and be like, ‘Whose baby is this?’. He was months old and they were like, ‘How have I not known him this long?!’”

Met with love and support from all, players have jumped at the chance to be in the toddler’s life and enjoy catching up with him when afforded the opportunity.

“Everyone was saying, ‘Why didn’t you just tell us in the first place? We don’t care.’ My teammates love him like I do, they’re always asking when he’s around and want to come over,” Curtis said.

Living with other emerging stars in Cooper Harvey, Miller Bergman, Josh Goater, and Robbie Hansen jr, sometimes Curtis extends the co-parenting roles to include his housemates when he steps out for a moment or two.

Curtis has been in open communication with North’s welfare team and feels aptly supported despite his age.

Having started a new relationship with girlfriend Kelera, he felt concerned about how she’d react early in their relationship when faced with yet another tough conversation.

“I said to her ... ‘I’ve got a baby’ and she was exceptional. She was actually quite happy because she loves kids and wants a lot of kids as well,” he said.

Playing his 50th game in the blue and white last year, Curtis ran through the banner with young Elijah in his arms.

Now a key member of the North family, the toddler was kitted out in a mini long-sleeved No.25 jumper to match his dad for team photo day earlier this year.