Sydney Swans’ draftee Zak Jones’ story is proof that hard work does pay off.

The Mt Eliza teenager, who was taken at pick 15 in Thursday’s AFL Draft, produced a massive turnaround in 2013, developing from a fringe player at the Dandenong Stingrays into one of the country’s best young talents.

It wasn’t easy for Jones, the younger brother of Melbourne midfielder Nathan, who was felt as though he wasn’t good enough for AFL football after being left off the Stingrays’ main list in 2012.

Rather than letting the disappointment of falling short bring him down, Jones worked harder than ever before throughout 2012 and earned a spot on the Stingrays’ list this year.

With his sights set on the 2013 AFL Draft, Jones knew he had to take his game to another level to prove his doubters wrong.

“I came into this year knowing that I had to do everything I could to try and prove everyone wrong and show everyone how I play football and show that I’m a better footballer than what a lot of people thought,” Jones told sydneyswans.com.au

“It was good to prove people wrong and show them that they didn’t know what I was actually capable of when I put my mind to it.

“This year I put my mind to footy a lot more knowing that I wanted to play at an AFL club and I know I’m going to have to do that even more now I’ve earned a spot.”

A versatile and courageous player, Jones is capable of playing both in defence and in the midfield.

Jones played all five games for Vic Country at the Under-18 Championships off half-back, which earned him the MVP award, before moving into a midfield role for the Stingrays ahead of the TAC Cup finals series.

Jones, who admits he loves the physicality of playing in the middle, said he hoped to develop into a regular midfielder now he’s on the Swans’ list.

“I definitely prefer to play as a midfielder to be honest, but I love playing on opponents and being able to run off them and to create off the backline,” he said.

“I also love playing midfield and being able to put my head over the ball and really enjoy the physical side of the game.”

Unsurprisingly, Zak’s older brother Nathan has been his football role model for the majority of his junior career and is now an AFL player he hopes to mould his game on.

“I try to watch a lot of his footy to help me work on my clearances and things like that because he’s a good clearance player,” Zak said.

“I look to him for guidance in the midfield for sure and he gives me plenty of advice.”

Zak said his brother was the most excited after his named was called on Thursday night.

“He was pretty stoked,” he said.

“He probably realised it quicker than I did. I realised it and sat there and took it all in whereas he was up and about and was jumping around loving it.

“Both my brothers, Nathan and Josh, told me they were so happy I’d made it and that I’d come as far as I had.”

Jones will arrive in Sydney on Sunday night before joining the Swans’ first-to-fourth year players for his first day of pre-season training on Monday morning.

The 18-year-old said he couldn’t wait to arrive at the club next week and settle into his new life on an AFL list.

“It’s a dream come true really to go to any AFL club, but to go to such a great club is just going to be a great experience,” he said.

“It’s going to be a massive learning curve too, but I can’t wait to get started with the boys and meet everyone around the club.

“It still hasn’t really hit me at the moment, but probably when I fly up there it will hit me and I’ll come to the realisation that I am an AFL player and I’m on an AFL list now.

“It’s pretty nerve wracking, but I can’t wait to get started.”