Sydney’s new draftee Molly Thomas says the excitement of being selected by the team she grew up supporting, outweighed the nervy wait among friends and family at home.

Thomas grew up in Singleton, a town on the banks of the Hunter River in NSW 202km from Sydney. 

“Feeling amazing, like speechless, I have no words. It's just awesome to get here, get to know everyone and get into it really,” Thomas said.

“It was awesome, I only heard like my first name and because everyone started jumping on top of me, I was like, I was speechless honestly, I had no words for it.

“That's been my dream since I started playing AFL and it's just, it's awesome that it's come true.”

The eighteen-year-old was paid a visit from new teammate Holly Cooper and fellow QBE Sydney Swans Academy graduate, who hails from nearby town Newcastle.

“I was over the moon, I was on the phone and then I hear my family screaming and I was like, what's going on?  I walk out and Holly's at my door, it was awesome, I was so pleased that she came,” Thomas said.

“I like watching her because she's an amazing player and to finally like meet her personally in person, it was awesome.” 

A smart and smooth-moving left-footer, Thomas is a hard-working midfielder with a great balance of offensive and defensive impact.

Thomas credits her work behind the scenes for where she is now.

“I'm always at the fields training, if I'm not at the fields, I'm at the gym,” she said.

“I travel down here every Wednesday to train because I live two and a half hours away.

“The Academy has helped me a lot, they've put so much time and effort into me and to all the girls, but they're awesome, just, along with you, every step of the journey.”

As her new chapter with the Swans begins, Thomas says she will take inspiration from fellow midfielder Tanya Kennedy.

“Tanya Kennedy, I love her because she's always like playing with intent,” Thomas said.

“She's always on the hunt, she’s positive and she's just a great like role model really.

“I'm definitely a first possession player, I love to like hunt with intent as well, so I think we have the same attributes.”