FOR SYDNEY Swans midfielder Kristin Thornton, last Thursday’s AFL Draft was the culmination of two years of hard work.

Thornton was delisted at the end of 2008 after undergoing a knee reconstruction earlier that year, before rejoining the Swans as a rookie for the 2009 season.

The Swans had given him every chance to prove he could regain his fitness and he duly repaid their faith by playing eight senior games.

Thus, the club held to its word by elevating him to the senior list with its sixth and final pick in the draft.

“It was one of my goals, to get back on there, and give myself every opportunity to keep playing footy here at the Swans. I’m glad I got to do it,” he said on Monday morning.

The 21-year-old hoped his success would set an example to his teammates who found themselves in tough situations.

“There’s a young bloke now, Campbell Heath, going through the same thing now that I was going through 12 months ago,” Thornton said.

“Hopefully he might be able to look at what I’ve done and get some inspiration and really work hard at it like I’ve done.”

Now entering his fifth season at the Swans, Thornton is set on earning a regular senior berth.

“I was sort of in and out of the team last year, so like any young bloke in my position, I want to cement my spot and play as many games as possible to help the boys out,” he said.

“But at the moment, I’m just running laps and trying to get as fit as I can so when I get out there, I’m not blowing and I’m able to give plenty back to the team.”

Monday’s training session also marked the arrival of the club’s latest batch of draftees - Gary Rohan, Lewis Jetta, Sam Reid, Byron Sumner and Trent Dennis-Lane.

Thornton easily recalled his own nerves at joining the club for the first time.

As a young bloke coming in, you’ve got to try to remember 40-odd names so it’s hard for them. We’re trying to do what we can to help them out,” he said.

But some of the new faces are more familiar than other for Thornton, who played junior football against Lewis Jetta when both were youngsters chasing the Sherrin in Bunbury, Western Australia.

“Lewie Jetta’s a Bunbury boy, so I’ll be looking after him. He’s a bloody good player and I’m glad he’s on my team now,” he said with a laugh.