When Sydney defender Jake Lloyd runs out for his 100^th AFL game on Friday night he will become the quickest Swan in history to reach triple figures.

But the milestone moment appeared lightyears away as he battled the disappointment of being denied at two National Drafts and one Rookie Draft across 2011 and 2012.

The 24-year-old eventually landed a lifeline when he signed with the Swans through pick 16 at the 2013 Rookie Draft in November of 2012.

He will bring up a century in Sydney’s clash with Hawthorn at the MCG but said his sights were set on the bigger picture.

“Reaching 100 games is a pretty special achievement,” Lloyd said.

“It wasn’t that long ago I remember running out in Round 5, 2014 against Fremantle for my first game.

“But it’s not something I’ve thought about too much.

“I’m here to win premierships and playing in those grand finals in 2014 and 2016 have been highlights but not the result we wanted. It’s what we’re working towards this year and that’s our goal.”

Lloyd will reach his 100^th game in four years and 22 days, making him the quickest to achieve the feat in South Melbourne-Sydney history and equal-third competition-wide.

He made his senior debut in 2014 after banking a season in the NEAFL the year prior.

The Horsham junior was recruited from North Ballarat and piled up 21 games in his first season at AFL level.

He has played more than 20 matches every season since and didn’t missed a game in 2016 as the Swans took out the minor premiership and powered through to the grand final.

He turned in another ever-reliable campaign in 2017 and tied with Lance Franklin for second in the Club’s best and fairest, the Bob Skilton Medal.

Lloyd is proud of the road he has taken.

“I didn’t start playing until I was 11 years old and when I hit 15 or 16 I was like every other kid – I was just wanted to get out there and play AFL footy,” Lloyd said.

“Whether you’re on a Rookie list or senior list it doesn’t really matter at this Club. I figured that out at the start and it was just all about hard work and trying to get myself into the senior team and it’s all history from there.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity the Swans gave me at the end of 2012.”

Lloyd has had the privilege of developing under the tutelage of fellow backmen Jarrad McVeigh, Heath Grundy and Dane Rampe.

The three battle-hardened defenders have 673 games of experience between and the milestone man said they had been with him every step of the way.

“Someone I certainly look up to is Jarrad McVeigh,” Lloyd said.

“He plays a similar position to me and the way he leads the guys around the ground is amazing. He is such a great leader of this football Club and he’s been a phenomenal player over many years.

“If I can have half the career he’s had I will be pretty happy.

“Grundy and Rampe are a couple of guys who have come off the Rookie list like me. It doesn’t really matter where you come from and how you get there – it’s just about how you stamp yourself when you’re out there on the weekend.

“Those two get the biggest forwards in the comp each week and they just go out there and play their role and do their job and that’s all I’ve got to do when I run out there.”

North Melbourne’s Wayne Schimmelbusch holds the record for being quickest to 100 games (four years, two days) and notched his ton in 1977.

Hawthorn’s Luke Bruest will face Lloyd on Friday and achieved the feat in four years and 15 days, while Lloyd will tie with West Coast’s Glen Jakovich (1995) for third.

The centurion cannot wait for the milestone occasion.

“It doesn’t get much bigger than the MCG on a Friday night and to be playing against Hawthorn – they’re such a great club,” Lloyd said.

“I’m going to have a lot of friends and family there as well and it’s going to be a big game and hopefully we can walk away with the win.”