Kyle Galloway had been a Swans player for just a few hours when he nearly caused premiership player Mike Pyke a serious injury.
The 19-year-old, who stands a remarkable 209 centimetres, did his first light training in the red and white after being picked up as a category B rookie, contesting a few tap-downs with the recently retired Canadian ruckman.
"I went up for a ruck contest, he come down on my foot and sprained his ankle," Galloway said. "I just thought 'Oh, I can't have this happen on my first day. Please be OK'. He's OK thankfully, just a bit sore."
It's not the preferred way to get ahead, but it might be a sign of where Galloway's destiny lies. With Pyke gone, Swans recruitment guru Kinnear Beatson eyed the Deniliquin youngster, who stands just a couple of centimetres shy of the AFL's tallest player, Fremantle behemoth Aaron Sandilands.
"Kyle is quite a unique player, having not played too many games of AFL but he displays all of the attributes we're looking for in a ruckman – he's tall, a good size with a great reach and he's deceptively agile," Beatson said. "It's becoming increasingly difficult to find players who are capable of playing AFL footy in the ruck but with his height and size we think Kyle is certainly worth a punt. Kyle's a raw talent but we ... think he'll be a great addition to the team alongside our developing talls."
Galloway and Pyke chatted in the ice baths after training and Pyke, who like Galloway came to the game late, gave the youngster some inspiration.
"He told me about when he first got picked up, he started pretty late and we're pretty similar like that," he said. "He just said to try hard, eat the right foods and get better."
He listed Pyke among his favourite players, along with Sandilands and celebrated North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein.
Galloway joined Sam Murray, also from southern NSW, at the club. Murray, a speedy midfielder, is a 189-centimetre left footer who can play as a half forward or on the wing, Beatson said.
"Sam showed great character this year after being overlooked for the Murray Bushrangers squad," he said. "He persevered, worked on the areas he needed to and was rewarded with a breakout season playing for the Wodonga Raiders and now has an opportunity on our rookie list."
Harry Marsh, a 2012 draftee, earned a reprieve after being delisted at the end of 2015. Marsh was named in the NEAFL team of the year and the 21-year-old was picked up at 32 in the rookie draft.
Meanwhile, GWS have taken Sam Reid, who initially joined the Giants in 2011 but had his progress stifled by injury.
"...It's been a bit of a rollercoaster with a few injuries here and there along with being in and out of the team all the time," said Reid, who had a shoulder reconstruction in late 2012 but stayed involved with the club as a development coach. "I want to throw the kitchen sink at playing this year to see how we go," he said.
