Irishman Colin O’Riordan is confident his hopes of playing senior football can become a reality as he enters his third season on the Swans list.

O’Riordan was recruited as one of the most talented young Gaelic footballers in Ireland when he joined the Swans rookie list at the start of the 2016 season.

Despite not yet playing a senior match, his improvement and development has continued over the last two seasons to a point where he now believes he is ready for the big time.

The 22-year-old said he was now clearer on what he was required to do in order to be selected for an AFL debut.

“The main thing I am hoping to get out of 2018 is to play senior football,” O’Riordan said.

“You would be lying if you said you didn’t want to play it, it is every person’s dream when they come here to play senior football.

“I haven’t quiet succeeded in that yet so hopefully in 2018 every time I get onto the track I am trying to perform and do the right thing.

“If I can do that then hopefully the coaches will notice me, and I get the chance to prove myself on the big stage.”

O’Riordan has settled as a hard running half back who uses the football well coming out of defence and has shown the ability to kick a goal.

“I think I have made good steps forward, the coaches obviously have their own idea of what they want me to be,” he said.

“At the end of the day I have to believe in what they are telling me, and I think I have grown a lot this year compared to last year.

“Probably I had to take a few backwards steps to go forward and I think that is what I have done this year so hopefully next year I can grow again, and it is an exciting year.”

O’Riordan will be reacquainted with Sydney Swans premiership player Tadgh Kennelly next season after it was announced Kennelly would join the club as a Development Coach.