Western Australian draftee Durak Tucker found out via a mate’s text last Friday the Swans had picked him up, the youngster packed his bags on Saturday and he boarded a plane for Sydney on Sunday.

The up-and-coming defender joined Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Jarrad McVeigh and the remainder of Sydney’s squad for pre-season training on Monday – and now he’s had a chance to take a breath, he says the past week has made for a time to treasure. 

The Swans selected Tucker via pick 12 at last Friday’s Rookie Draft, luring the Peel Thunder product from the west alongside six other draftees from other parts of Australia who’ve this week injected young blood into the list.

Tucker said being drafted made for a surreal experience.

“I was with mum and we watched the National Draft and it was a very long day, so once they finished the Draft I went up to bed and was watching some YouTube,” Tucker told SwansTV.

“The Rookie Draft was supposed to start at 3pm but it actually started at 2:30pm, so I actually missed my name on the computer. My mate messaged and was like, ‘Congratulations!’ So I quickly jumped on the computer and I saw my name.

“I ran down to mum, she was just about to leave to go somewhere and I just jumped on her. I couldn’t have been happier.”

Every one of Sydney’s draftees have this week joined the Swans for the opening week of all-in pre-season training.

Nick Blakey, James Rowbottom, Justin McInerney and Zac Foot signed with the Swans at last week’s National Draft, before Tucker, Harry Reynolds and Sam Wicks put pen to paper as rookies.

Tucker played just one game in season 2018 due to a ruptured ACL he’s still recovering from, and although he’s still in the thick of rehabilitation in his early days as a Swan, he says he’s buzzing with excitement to hit ‘go’ on the pre-season grind.

“I just can’t wait to get out there and just start training and really get to know all the boys too."