In his debut year with the Sydney Swans, Alex Johnson surprised many - including himself.

The 18-year old - one of five Swans players from Xavier College in Melbourne - played 20 games including both finals.

He slotted seamlessly into the Swans defence, playing roles both tall and small.

Alex spoke to sydneyswans.com.au about his outstanding debut season…

Alex, you must be thrilled with your debut season?

I set myself a goal last year, that if I got drafted or got onto a rookie list, I wanted to make an immediate impact. If I did get drafted, I wanted to debut, but with 20 games, I certainly exceeded my own expectations, along with a lot of other peoples.

Are you surprised at what you’ve been able to achieve this year?

Yeah I have been. I wanted to come in and make an impact but I didn’t think it would be like this. John (Longmire) and Stu (Dew), who I work with a lot, have been really happy.

You have almost made everything look too easy this year…what has been the most challenging part of the year for you?

I guess moving away from home would be the biggest challenge. Apart from that, the club has been so welcoming, and all the boys, coaches and staff have been great. Getting used to the environment of a professional football club has been a huge step up from junior footy, but I’ve enjoyed it. I like to pride myself on having a strong work ethic, so that has helped me.

Who has helped you this season?

Definitely Nick Malceski who is my mentor, he’s been a massive influence on me this year. He has helped me in the initial stages of moving away from home. He is a fellow Melbourne boy himself, so he knows what it is like. Early on, Henry Playfair in the reserves was a great help, he really got me prepared for senior footy. I’ve worked with Stuart Dew and John Longmire closely this year, and they have been a huge help too.

What has been the highlight for you?

I’d have to say my debut. Going over to West Coast is a daunting task for a senior player, so to go there in my first year and get a win was certainly a highlight. Just the season as a whole was a highlight. To play in a couple of finals was just fantastic.

What are the areas you need to improve for next season?

I think my kicking under pressure will be the major area of focus for me during the pre-season. That is my kicking technique as well as my decision-making. I can’t wait for my first real pre-season. I’ve never had an injury free pre-season at any level, so I’m really looking forward to it. I think I started running in January last pre-season, so to start in November this year will give me a huge base.

How important have the leaders at the club been?

From the first day I walked in here, I took a lot from just looking at the way guys like Goodesy, Ryan O’Keefe and Jude Bolton train and go about their business. They are happy to offer you advice on anything and I feel more than comfortable to go and ask them anything.

What’s the plan for the break?

I’m just going to head home and catch up with family and some schoolmates that I haven’t seen for a while.