Sydney youngster Ben Ronke has drawn inspiration from the Swans' many rookie list success stories, two of whom will attain significant milestones on the weekend.
Ronke, a 2017 rookie draft selection, earned this week's Rising Star nomination after his heroic effort in the Swans' win over Hawthorn last Friday at the MCG.
The 20-year-old forward became the first player in VFL-AFL history to tally seven goals and ten tackles in a game.
Almost half of the Swans side that took the field last Friday started their AFL life on the rookie list.
On Saturday, two of those men, defenders Heath Grundy and Nick Smith, will etch their name deeper into the club's fabric.
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Grundy will tally his 246th game, moving him up joint eighth on the South Melbourne-Sydney Swans all-time appearance.
His long-term backline buddy Smith will chalk up his 200th match in the SCG clash with Fremantle.
"You can draw a lot from that coming to the Swans," Ronke said of the club's rookie list success stories.
"The first thing you realise is that no matter what pick you are, whether you're first in the national draft or last in the rookie draft, you are all on the same playing field.
"It''s just all about how you go that first pre-season and the respect you can earn.
'You're not judged based on what pick you are."
Ronke had to overcome a series of injuries before battling his way onto an AFL club's list.
But you won't hear the young man moaning about the difficulties he had cracking the AFL system.
"These days a lot of people have tough roads and stories to tell about how they get there," Ronke said.
"But in the end, I just tried to stay as committed as I can.
"I knew it was something that I wanted to do and if I kept sticking at it, I'd get there eventually.
"I guess it makes you appreciate it more."
