It may take a little while yet before the reality of working alongside the best full-forward in the game dawns on 2017 draftee Tom McCartin.

McCartin, a 193cm and 87kg key forward from the Geelong Falcons, was one of three new players the Sydney Swans welcomed to the football club during Friday night's National Draft.

Selected with pick 33, the 17-year-old brother St Kilda's Paddy described the feeling as "surreal" when his new teammate Callum Mills called his name and helped realise his dream.

"I didn't have any indication of where I was going," McCartin said from his living room at home.

"It's such a great club and to have Matty Ling go before me, another boy from the Falcons who I'm good mates with, I'm so pumped and over the moon.

"I can't wait to get started and get stuck into it."

After the celebrations cooled, McCartin then took another deep breath when realising he'd soon be joining a forward group headlined by reigning Coleman medallist Lance Franklin.

As a young emerging key forward, he's always revered Franklin's on-field feats and felt blessed to now have the superstar in his corner.

"As a young footballer, he's one of the best role models you could have," McCartin said.

"I don't think it's sunk in yet, that I'll be working alongside him. What a great resource to have.

"I can't wait to meet them all and to be able to learn from him I feel very lucky."

A key resource for McCartin throughout his junior football has been his older brother, who was selected by the Saints with pick one in the 2014 National Draft.

Paddy, who's managed 22 games in his three seasons in the system, has been there for Tom every step of the way.

"Throughout this year I could go to him whenever I wanted to ask him questions or seek advice," the younger brother said.

"He's also been massive over the last few weeks, in the lead up to the draft his advice was mainly to just enjoy it, which I've done.

"He's been a great mentor for me, I look up to him in the way he goes about it and am pretty lucky to have him as a brother."

His guidance is set to continue and be important as ever as Tom embarks on the new career which will involve juggling life as a footballer and student given Tom is still in secondary school.

In Year 11 at Geelong’s St Joseph’s College, McCartin will be granted the time and space to complete his studies wherever that may be.

"We've had some preliminary discussions with this topic and we'll just work through that," recruiting and list strategy manager Kinnear Beatson said.

"We're aware he wants to finish school and we'll support that."

McCartin will join Ling and fellow draftee Ryley Stoddart for training in the coming week.