LOCHIE O'Brien wants to be drafted, play at the top level and forge a long and successful football career like every other talented young footballer in the country.

However there is something else a little different about the classy midfielder to most other prospects: he also wants to be a pilot.

O'Brien, who comes from country Victoria and is considered one of the leading players in the 2017 draft pool, grew up around Mildura airport.

His grandfather used to run the Qantas link there, and O'Brien's dad also had a job at the regional spot as a baggage handler and staffer.

Add to that his mum formerly being a flight attendant, and it is easy to see where his aim of being a pilot developed and grew.

"I used to go out to Mildura airport for dinner and things like that to hang out with dad because he used to also work in the mines so we didn't get to see him much," O'Brien told AFL.com.au.

"From there we travelled a fair bit and I used to think, 'Imagine looking out at the views from the front of the plane' and I've definitely got an interest towards being a pilot. I think it'd be an amazing job."

O'Brien's fondness for the air meant he was able to get through the NAB AFL Academy's long journey to America a little better than some of his 35 teammates, who trained at the IMG Academy in Florida for the past week for their high performance camp.

The 17-year-old, who boards at Geelong Grammar, has already looked into aviation courses for when he finishes school.

"Some kids go and do flight lessons before they go to university, but I wanted to focus on my footy at this stage. I matched all my classes at school for year 12 to get into the aviation course, so hopefully I can do well enough with that and then make it into one," he said.

"There's a few places that have courses and I've looked at a couple of options."

For now, O'Brien's full attention is on making this season the best of his promising football career. The Bendigo Pioneers product starts the year as perhaps the most talented midfielder available: he's a damaging left-foot kick, a nice size (184cm, 78kg) and has an elite mix of speed and endurance.

He played for Vic Country at last year's under-18 championships, and starred in the NAB All Stars game on Grand Final day with 20 disposals and two goals from the wing.

He sees his athletic background – he was a national runner and competed in Canada in a teen development squad – as beneficial for his football.

O'Brien said his running had been something that had prospered swiftly after getting some exposure in 400m events.

"I rocked up one day at a meet in Melbourne when I was a bit younger and everyone was wearing big shoes and spikes and I had no idea what was going on. I had never been to the Albert Park racetrack, and I'd never even seen a good track because we just ran on grass back home," he said.

"I came fourth that day but had a bit more of a crack the next year and ended up winning and breaking the state record, so that was good.

"It really helps my footy, especially with the mental side of things. You don't get puffed out, but you know the person next to you is probably feeling it more and that you can go again."

O'Brien has been stopped in his tracks while on tour with the Academy, however, with a quad niggle not allowing him from competing in the fitness and conditioning session, including the 3km time trial.

He has also been ruled out of training while in Los Angeles as the squad completes its trip in coming days. It has been a frustration for O'Brien, but he knows a long year awaits and has plenty of goals to achieve along the way.

"The main one for me during the year is to make the All Australian team after the championships," he said. "That's a pretty big aim and something I'd really like to do. As for the rest, we'll take it as it comes and see how things go."