Sydney Swans defender Michael Talia has been a sponge over the past four months, learning off the best in the business to help develop his own game and find his place in the Swans’ best 22.

Talia, who arrived in Sydney via the exchange period, has only had a minor injury setback in a relatively smooth transition from the Western Bulldogs to the Swans during the off-season.

Surgery to mend a dislocated finger proved only a speedbump as the 23-year-old of 30 career AFL games featured in the Swans’ intra-club then was picked against Port Adelaide in the Swans’ first NAB Challenge match of the season.

His development continues in the lead up to the Swans’ remaining two NAB Challenge fixtures – against GWS on Friday and Carlton on March 11 – and this year’s 2016 season opener against Collingwood.

Assisting in that development are stars Lance Franklin and Heath Grundy.

A familiar opponent of Franklin’s while at Whitten Oval, Talia has rarely left the star forward’s side during contested work in pre-season training while Grundy has been somewhat of a mentor in the defender’s aims for a regular spot in the back six.

“He (Franklin) is probably the best forward in the league so it’s exciting to be able to train on a bloke of that calibre,” Talia told SwansTV.

“It has really helped me in my game, he’s always giving me tips on how to best use my body so from that point of view it’s really good.

“A few times he has given me nightmares at training but Horse (John Longmire) has told me to stick in there. Hopefully it’ll help me in the long run and become a good defender for the Sydney Swans.

And on Heath Grundy: “Reg has been awesome. How to use my body, positioning, dropping off…all those things that make him such a good player he’s imparting on to me.”

Talia is vying to play in Friday’s clash against GWS at Drummoyne which is expected to be a sell out before turning his attention to this month’s rescheduled SCG blockbuster against the Magpies.