Tipped as a likely first-round pick, Gippsland Power forward Tim Membrey’s slip into the second round of Thursday night’s AFL Draft came as a surprise to many.

The 18-year-old, from the south-east Victorian town of Traralgon, had an outstanding final month of football in 2012, which saw the 189cm forward kick 16 goals in the Power’s three TAC Cup finals.

But as the first round passed with Membrey’s name still to be called, the Swans recruiting team just couldn’t go past the powerful forward when they selected him with pick 46.

Speaking to sydneyswans.com.au last Friday, Membrey said he could not wait to join the Swans.

“I haven’t got the smile off my face and I’m just so excited and I can’t wait to get up to Sydney,” he said.

“You always hear good things about the Swans and their culture and I really can’t wait to be a part of it.

“I am just stoked to have got the opportunity now to be a Swan.”

After being listed in a number of commentators’ ‘phantom drafts’, Membrey admitted he did feel added pressure leading into this year’s draft.

Fortunately for Membrey, he did not have to deal with the nerves alone, with Gippsland Power team mate Nick Graham alongside him for the count.

“We’re good family friends with the Grahams so we went down there and sat around their outdoor area and had the TV set up out the back,” he said.

“We just sat out the back there and watched the draft with them.

“Nick went at pick 54 to Carlton, so that was pretty exciting as well.”

While Graham’s journey to Melbourne is just a two hour drive down the highway, Membrey made the trip to Sydney yesterday afternoon and started his pre-season with the team this morning.

Membrey said he was excited about the move and the new challenge, and meeting his new team mates in the Harbour City.

“I fly out on Sunday and arrive in Sydney on Sunday afternoon and then straight into it on Monday,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people as well as the guys who I have grown up looking up to and thinking they were absolute champions.

“I can’t wait to get the opportunity to train and play alongside them. It’s just going to be incredible.”

Membrey admitted that he had a lot of work to do this pre-season to get him game up to AFL standard.

The teenager said he hoped to mirror his game on that of West Coast forward Jack Darling, who he admires for his work ethic on the field.

“I’m a medium-forward, so I’m not quite as tall as the key forwards, but I hope to get to the club and work really hard and hopefully start going through the midfield if I can get myself nice and fit,” he said.

“I guess there is sort of attributes I like about Jack Darling. He’s not overly tall as well but you would think he is a key forward because of how strong of a mark he is and he is a good kick for goal.

“His work rate is incredible too, so he is someone I’d like to try to model my game around.”