SAM Reid says he was surprised when the Swans called his name out at last Thursday’s AFL Draft - and the feeling was mutual.

“I spoke to the Swans once at draft camp and like most clubs, they didn’t give much away as to whether they’re going to pick you up or not,” he said.

“I’d spoken to six or seven other clubs and they were all pretty much similar. They were all saying they were interested but none of them were giving too much away.

“I was a little surprised, but I’m happy to be here.”

Swans coach Paul Roos said the Club’s recruiters hadn’t banked on the 192cm key position player from the Murray Bushrangers being available at pick No.38.

With the likes of Craig Bolton and pre-season draft target Daniel Bradshaw well into the later stages of their careers, Roos said Reid would add to the club’s stocks of young talls.

“We didn’t think he’d be there so to get a tall was really encouraging. He’s a terrific athlete when you see the size of him as well,” Roos said.

“He just adds another one to Lewis Johnston. We’re a little bit short in that area but we probably felt our midfield was more important with our early picks. To get Sam at 38 was really pleasing, which then allows us to develop him.

“We’ve got Craig Bolton, who’s probably two or three years away, and [we’ve got] Braddy for the short term - three years - so it’s good to get another young kid coming in to be able to play a key role.”

Reid has made the move from his home town of Wangaratta in northern Victoria but Sydney isn’t an entirely foreign city.

His uncle, John Reid, played 10 games for the Swans in 1982-83 and he still lives in Sydney.

Word also spread quickly on the AFL grapevine.

Not long after Reid was drafted, his older brother - Collingwood forward Ben - assured him that his new teammate, Rhyce Shaw, would keep an eye out for him, having spoken with Rhyce’s brother, Magpie defender Heath.

Reid said his brother had given him one particularly salient piece of advice in the lead-up to the draft.

“When we do speak, it’s not really much about footy because we don’t really see each other that often. He just told me to make the most of every opportunity,” he said.

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