Nearly 12 months has come and gone since Will Hayward's "best and worst" night of his life.

The best, because his AFL dream was about to be realised, and the worst, because that feeling of the unknown often got the better of him.

His wait for the 2016 National Draft was, for these reasons, an agonising one.

He was smack  bang in the middle of his Year 12 exams but the sheer excitement of potentially landing on an AFL list mixed with a feeling of dread if that dream didn't come true produced an unhelpful concoction and disrupted his focus.

"Leading up to the draft I was, to be honest, a bit of a nervous wreck," Hayward said.

"I didn't know where I was going to end up and there were a few sleepless nights. I just tried to keep myself busy.

"It was around school exam time which didn't help my schooling too much.

Hayward arrived in Sydney a few days ahead of the big night trying to keep an open mind, bracing for either elation or disappointment but overall thankful for the support from his family and best mate who'd made the trip with him.

Hayward, being a top 20 prospect, had a few media commitments to keep himself occupied and there was also a big city to explore.

Little did he know he'd soon have ample opportunity to explore the Harbour City.

That thought was by then out of Hayward's calculations. He'd met with the Swans before but walked out of that exchange thinking 'there's no chance' after recruiting and list stretgey manager Kinnear Beatson delivered some home truths targeting his fitness levels.

But his tireless efforts with a personal trainer in the months between the championships and draft, he knew, still didn't guarantee him anything.

All this considered, it was safe to say when his name was announced at pick #21 by the Sydney Swans an enormous relief swept through the Hayward camp.

"Sometimes when we reflect on it, we say it was the best and worst night of our lives," he said, with 17 senior games under his belt.

"Because I was sitting there so nervous and then the weight that goes off your shoulders when your name is called out is the best feeling ever."

Fast forward 12 months, Hayward is in the early stages of his second pre-season without the burden and uneasiness of draft week but the confidence and know-how of a player taking huge strides in promising AFL career.

Will Hayward and Ollie Florent at draft night.