SYDNEY Swans recruit Campbell Heath is still coming to terms with his rapid rise from the TAC Cup to the elite competition in the land.

The Swans chose the hard-running Gippsland Power player with selection 61 in the national draft and signed him up on a three-year deal, an offer that, from the teenager’s perspective at least, came out of the blue.

"I was shocked. I had no expectations at all. I didn't think I'd get drafted," Heath said.

"Before the [TAC Cup] season started, I just wanted to make the [Gippsland] Power team, and that would've been a good effort for me. I made that and played nearly every game and was lucky enough to play one game for [Victoria] Country.

"Then this. It happened so quickly. It's like a dream but I didn't think I'd reach it."

Heath, 17, has a background in athletics and credits this with developing his running ability. But there are more footy-specific areas he concedes he needs to work on.

"I quite enjoy running although I'm probably not as much an in-and-under player," he said.

Swans assistant coach John Blakey sees the youngster's decision-making and ball use as the type of assets needed by the club.

"Campbell is going really well. He's a lovely kick of the football and a nice mover. That's a good thing about the new guys coming in like Campbell, Dan Hannebery and Lewis Johnson – they all show a good skill set,” Blakey said. 

"Skill errors or turnovers can be really costly, so the ability to kick the ball and get it to its target is very important. They are things we naturally look at and all the boys who've come in have.

"Part of our job is to help them make the right decision when the pressure is on."

Heath will return to Gippsland in the next two weeks to complete his school education, but holidays will see him in NSW, training with the club and playing in Swans reserves fixtures.

Like most new recruits, Heath has found stepping up to AFL training a challenge, but it's one he's relishing.

"Normally our [Gippsland Power] training would go for an hour max, but here the warm-ups alone go for 20 minutes.

"So it's hard, especially in the heat, but I'm adapting."