It was only 2019 when Lachlan McAndrew picked up an Australian Rules ball. Now just two years on, he's part of Sydney Swans future after being selected in the AFL’s mid-season draft.

“It was unexpected, I was with my family sitting around the fire trying to keep warm and a couple of ruckman went early before my name got called out. I got a call from John [Longmire] and he said congratulations. I was pretty speechless!," McAndrew said.

"Mum couldn’t get to sleep last night, she kept coming into my room and letting me know how proud of me she is."

The Northern Beaches local grew up playing rugby union, but fell in love with Australian Rules after he was encouraged to join the QBE Sydney Swans Academy.

“I’ve played with Manly Wolves, that’s where I started. I played about 15 games there, before playing four or five VFL games. I’m still getting the hang of the game at the moment, I’m just trying to improve each week.

"Coming out of Covid I was training with the Academy and just hitting those kicks and when they started to stick I got addicted. Obviously playing in the ruck position, I got to experience the physicality of it and when I started to play games I really fell in love with it.”

Standing at 209cm, McAndrew joins the Swans eager to develop his craft as a ruckman, and will be guided by some of the game’s best talent in Tom Hickey and Assistant Coach Dean Cox.

“I couldn’t be in better hands," McAndrew said.

"For someone trying to develop as a ruckman you couldn’t be in better hands than with Coxy, and the likes of Hickey who’s excelling in the AFL competition at the moment.

"I’ve set myself a goal of a year or two down the track where I can hopefully develop as a player enough to get that starting opportunity.”