Tuesday started out like any other day for Shane Biggs.

After receiving a phone call from Swans Manager - Player Personnel, Kinnear Beatson, on Monday night, he had an inkling he may be picked up in the rookie draft, but still went to work on Tuesday regardless.

On a building site in Melbourne while the rookie draft was taking place, Biggs was oblivious to his name being put through with pick 13 - the Swans first overall selection.

A few text messages from mates and a couple of phone calls later, he downed tools and made the 1000 kilometre move up the road to ply his trade at the Swans.

“I just thought it was a bit of a gag,” Biggs told SwansTV.

“I got a call the night before (from Kinnear) to say “you’re a chance, but I can’t promise anything”. Then I got a few texts from mates (while I was) at work and I just had to make a few phone calls and it was all true.

“I said (to my boss) “I’m off to Sydney mate!”’’

Biggs grew up playing football, but has been described by Beatson as the perfect example of a late developer. After a growth spurt in his late teens and good form in Melbourne’s Eastern Football League, Biggs progressed to the Bendigo Bombers in the VFL and now gets his shot with the Swans.

“He went through school with Sam Blease and Jordan Gysberts from Melbourne, and Andrew Moore from Port Adelaide, but at that stage he was quite small -in fact he didn’t grow until after year 12,” Beatson said.

“That’s where his confidence has come, as his body has started to fill out, and he’s now got a body where he is able to compete.”

Biggs didn’t go through the normal process of the AFL Draft Combine or TAC Cup competition, so the Swans conducted their own testing session and were impressed with what he could offer the club.

“He tested very well, with a 14.6 beep test and a sub three-second 20 metre sprint,” Beatson said.

“He just fitted the bill for what we needed - a smart decision maker when he’s got the ball, runs hard, and runs long.”

Biggs has temporarily moved into Jesse White’s place until Christmas, and admits that the last few days have been a whirlwind experience.   

“It’s really full on, but what I expected” he said. “Everyone’s following you and telling you to do stuff. It’s usually mum, but now I’ve got about ten other mums!”

Biggs’ addition to the rookie list has capped off a Swans-related year for the 20-year old, having been coached by former Swan Shannon Grant at Bendigo and captained by 2005 premiership player Luke Ablett at EFL club Mulgrave.