After taking a tour of SwansHQ with newly appointed Football Manager Tom Harley on Tuesday afternoon, the hours leading up to the 2014 AFL Draft were a nervous wait for new draftee James Rose.

The South Australian, who impressed for his state side on the half forward line throughout the AFL Under-18 Championships, had his fingers crossed that the club had him at the top of their list when pick 37 came around on AFL Draft night.

Speaking to sydneyswans.com.au after hearing his name read out by Swans National Recruiting Manager Michael Agresta, Rose said he was both thrilled and relieved to learn he would be making the move to the Harbour City.

“When my name was called I was more relieved than anything, because (the Swans) had sort of given me a bit of a hint but nothing certain,” Rose told sydneyswans.com.au

“I was taken on a tour of the club this week and I definitely got a sense of how real the culture was that everyone speaks about and you sort of get the sense that everyone lives by it.

“Everyone was really genuine and really nice to talk to and it was just a privilege to be given the opportunity to be up there in the first place, let alone hearing my name on the TV on draft night.

“I was just absolutely rapt to hear the Swans read out my name.”

With a penetrating kick and strong hands overhead, Rose averaged 11 disposals in his five matches for South Australia in this year’s AFL Under-18 carnival, and also displayed his love for the physical side of the game.

Rose, who also boasts an impressive natural leap, said he hoped to emulate the game of West Coast Eagles forward Mark LeCras.

“I really like how Mark LeCras goes about his football from West Coast,” he said.

“He’s got a great ability to take an overhead mark and is super clean on the ground, so he’s someone I’ve sort of tried to model my game on.”

While he has played the majority of his junior football as a forward, Rose said he was also prepared to learn to play new roles should the coaching staff require him to.

“Up until this year, I’ve played that half-forward role,” he said.

“But anything to get a chance in the senior team I’ll be 100 per cent ready for.”

With the Swans’ five-plus year players also set to return to the club on Monday, Rose said he expected to feel overwhelmed by the experience.

The 18-year-old, who attended Adelaide’s Scotch College and played his junior football with Sturt Football Club, will fly into Sydney this weekend before joining pre-season training on Monday morning.

Rose said he was looking forward to the move to Sydney and said he was always prepared to move interstate to pursue his AFL dream.

“It was always my intention if I was to play football at a professional level to move interstate,” he said.

“I can’t wait to get started on life and sort of establish myself in a professional environment, and moving interstate is sort of a way to fast track that process.”

The young Swan added that he hoped to adapt quickly and learn to fit in with his new teammates as soon as possible.

“It’s obviously going to be very daunting to begin with, but it’s just one of the many steps you’ve got to take to get used to, if you want to get a chance to play with them,” he said.

“I think it’s going to be important to get that overwhelmed phase out of the way pretty quickly to become comfortable with the group and give yourself the best opportunity.”