Emerging midfielder Jake Lloyd has always understood the value of hard work.

He was an avid trainer as a junior footballer and that work ethic has stuck with him at the Sydney Swans, through his first year as a rookie and ever since his swift elevation to the senior list.

He’s now a regular fixture in the Swans’ senior outfit, but don’t expect the 23-year-old to be content or rest on his laurels in 2017.

Lloyd enjoyed his most consistent season to date last year, playing every game and averaging 24.38 disposals to finish seventh in the Bob Skilton Medal.

He’s become, arguably, one of the most underrated and most consistent outside midfielders in the competition.

Coach John Longmire even used the former rookie across half-back in the second half of the year, to great effect, with the boy from Horsham providing the Swans with plenty of drive while putting his sound decision making and skills to good use.

If his pre-season is any indication, Lloyd is set for another big year.

But it won’t come without the very thing Lloyd puts a high price on and has become known for over his four seasons in red and white.

“We all put in a lot of hard work, not just myself but there are a lot of young guys at the moment who are really stepping up,” Lloyd said.

“You’ve got to put the work in to get the reward...if you work hard enough your time will come and you’ll get those opportunities.

“I want to be as consistent as possible. The best midfielders in the competition do it week in, week out (so) that’s the goal for me this year.”

Some of those very midfielders Lloyd has the luxury of playing alongside, including skipper Josh Kennedy.

Kennedy, a three-time Club Champion and the best contested ball player in the AFL, is just one of several fellow midfielders Lloyd is eager to feed off as his rise continues within the Sydney Swans’ talented midfield group.

“They’re obviously some of the premier midfielders of the competition,” Lloyd added of the likes of Kennedy, Dan Hannebery, Luke Parker and Kieren Jack.

“Joey (Kennedy) is such a consistent midfielder and such a good player. It’s great to be on the outside watching them do their thing.

“It certainly is good being on their team and not coming up against them, that’s for sure.”