Sydney Swans recruit Harry Reynolds last week thought his Draft hopes had flashed before his eyes and now he’s at centre stage of his AFL dream.
The 18-year-old defender signed with Sydney via pick 28 at last Friday’s Rookie Draft but not before locking himself in his room, resigned to the fact he’d have to wait another year to shoot for an AFL contract.
“I was sitting there watching the National Draft and it kept going through the numbers, so I just got to the point where I gave up,” Reynolds told SwansTV.
“I went up to my room and just sat there and then came back down for the Rookie Draft and dad got a text from (Swans list manager) Kinnear Beatson saying, ‘We’ve just picked him’.
“And then I was on the phone to John Longmire a minute later, so it was pretty surreal.”
Reynolds says he’s still pinching himself after his opening week of pre-season training with the Swans.
“It’s fantastic. It’s a dream come true to be walking past ‘Buddy’ Franklin and Luke Parker,” Reynolds said.
“To be able to say ‘Hello’ to all of them is unbelievable. I’m rapt.”
Reynolds was one of seven draftees selected by the Swans at last week’s National and Rookie Drafts.
Nick Blakey, James Rowbottom, Justin McInerney and Zac Foot put pen to paper at the National Draft, before Reynolds, Durak Tucker and Sam Wicks signed as rookies.
Reynolds this year averaged 18 disposals in Sandringham colours in the TAC Cup and believes a number of his strengths caught the eye of Sydney’s recruitment team.
“I’m pretty good with my versatility, so I like to think I can play on a small, a big or a medium player,” Reynolds said.
“I’m pretty quick and can also fly for a mark, so I think I could be pretty dangerous down back.”
Reynolds, who also made his mark for Victorian school Brighton Grammar, says he’s over the moon to be sweating his way through his first pre-season as an AFL footballer.
“I’m super excited,” Reynolds said.
“It’s awesome just to be here, especially in the first week just to be running around with the boys and having a kick. It’s incredible.”
