Lewis Johnston had never been so nervous. Not even on draft day.

It was four weeks ago, on April 10, when he ran out in the red and white to play his first official game as a Sydney Swan, for the reserves against Belconnen.

“I didn’t sleep and I got out of bed at 7.30 and went for a coffee and tried to relax and then I started on the bench which didn’t make it easier,’’ Johnston recalled.

“I came on at the eight minute mark and it was the most nervous moment of my football career.’’

Which was understandable, because it had been the longest wait. Johnston had been at the club for more than 18 months but a series of injuries had kept him on the sidelines almost the entire time.

After being picked up as the Swans first round pick (number 12) in the 2008 draft, the talented Johnston came to the club from South Australia with high hopes of making his debut in 2009.

But it turned out to be a year of desolation for the 19-year-old key position player, who grew up in Port Pirie.

“It wasn’t the easiest thing. If I played all last year and kept injury free it would have made settling in 100 per cent easier for me. But now I’m back playing and I’m feeling much more comfortable and building good relationships,’’ he said.

Johnston has now played five games for the Swans reserves, and kicked four goals two weeks ago, against Ainslie. Coach Daniel McPherson has played him in the backline the last two weeks in an attempt to improve the defensive side of his game.

“I’ve enjoyed it, it’s been good running off from the backline and I’m learning a lot from playing there and having to play tight on my opponent,’’ Johnston said.

The foot problems that dogged him throughout 2009 have disappeared after an operation and careful management, including significant changes to his diet and weight to lessen the load on his limbs.

While he was out of action last year, Johnston put on 10 kilograms of muscle due to an intensive weights program, but this year he had to lose it again.

It’s all been part of the rollercoaster for Johnston as he evolved from country footballer to an elite AFL environment.  “I’ve learnt a lot about how far I can push myself and I’ve still got a bit to go,’’ he said.

“I can still push myself harder, and I’ve realised all the extras that are needed to make it to the highest level. My mentor is Goodesy and he helps me a lot. When I came here I was a pretty poor trainer, coming from the country where we just kicked the ball around, so that was a big focus for me.

“The coaches want me to be really desperate on the field and make sure I have second and third efforts and defensive pressure,’’ Johnston said.

It’s something he’ll be working on in the reserves in the short-term as he regains his strength and endurance after such a long injury layoff.

Player development manager Stuart Maxfield says 2009 was a really tough year for Johnston, who came to the club with big wraps as a potential key forward.

But it’s been obvious since Johnston got back on the field a month ago that he has the attributes to make it if he works hard.

“He’s played well in defence the last few weeks but he still needs to develop his defensive disciplines, and we have to keep making sure he learns good training habits,’’ Maxfield said.

“At the moment we’ve got two players in Lewis - the one who trains and the one who plays. On the field he is competitive and works hard, but at training he’s inconsistent, so that’s the focus.

“All players need to realise they can’t flick a switch on and off. They need to train well to play well.

“But we’ve seen in games that he has beautiful foot skills and he’s very composed on the field. He uses the ball really well by foot, makes very good decisions and sets up play.

“He had a challenging year but he’s learnt a lot about himself and his body. It was a physical and mental struggle, so it’s been great to see him on the field the last few weeks,’’ Maxfield said.

Johnston says he’s treating 2010 as his first year. “I just want to do everything I can to keep improving,’’ he said.

The reserves have a bye this weekend, before taking on Belconnen at Manuka Oval on May 22.