All that could change in coming years after the Sydney Swans star was drafted into the side for the upcoming 2019 AFL season.

He spent almost 10 years in the Swans Academy - a position former Port Macquarie Magpies star Max Lower found himself in before he moved to South Australia.

And now, Blakey is rubbing shoulders with the Swans senior squad.

Blakey said he also knew of a handful of students who also currently found themselves in the academy and he hoped they could follow in his footsteps.

"The kids probably have no idea who we are," he said.

"But as soon as you tell them we're Swans players they get pretty excited, so it's good to come back and get into the community.

"There are a few Swans academy boys now who are here at this school.

"I was in the academy for seven or eight years so if some of these kids can go on and end up on the senior list with me and Harry that'd be great."

Blakey and fellow draft pick Harry Reynolds were in town as the club appeared in regional parts of New South Wales.

"I haven't been back to schools for a while now so seeing the young kids muck around and have fun is always good," Blakey said.

"For me I was in the academy for so long, so I started playing under-10s state championships in Albury.

"The academy was great for me because you get to test yourself against the best players every week which is probably the best thing.

"You get real confidence out of that when your football stands up against the best and you think you can actually be a footballer."

Blakey said what loomed for him in 2019 was unknown as he found himself down the pecking order behind players such as Lance Franklin, Daniel Menzel and Sam Reid.

"There are so many great forwards at the Swans with Bud, Menzel and Reidy so there are already a few players that are in front of me," he said.

"My goal is to play senior football, but we have heaps of young kids at the Swans and the reality is not everyone's going to play a senior game.

"If we can have a good NEAFL season a lot of the boys will be playing in the twos so it's all about putting your best foot forward whether you're playing senior football or if you're playing reserves.

"I'm not too sure what 2019 will hold but I'll put my best foot forward and hopefully crack into the senior team."

The soon-to-be 19-year-old said the Swans were focused on proving people wrong this season.

"A lot of people have written us off already and they don't reckon we'll be great, but I believe our best football is as good as anyone," he said.

"If our best players are playing well, then we'll be hard to stop."

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