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PORT Adelaide rookie-listed forward Brett Eddy admits he thought the chances of making the AFL had passed him by at the age of 27.

The Power rewarded Eddy's weight of goals in the SANFL when they claimed the South Adelaide spearhead with the 26th pick in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft on Monday.

Eddy has won the Ken Farmer Medal as the competition's leading goalkicker in the past two seasons to press his claims for a long-awaited shot at the next level. 

He spoke with the Power in the lead-up to the draft, but was given no guarantees they would follow through on their interest. 

"I didn't think the opportunity would come being 27," Eddy said on Tuesday. 

"The AFL is going down the path of picking the best players, whether they are 22 or 18. 

"I think that's probably helped my case."

Eddy handed in his resignation as an associate with stockbroking firm Morgan and Stanley on Monday night ahead of his transition to becoming a full-time footballer.

Standing 194cm, Eddy is versatile enough to play a variety of different roles in attack, whether it's deep inside the forward 50 or as a high half-forward.

Eddy played for De La Salle in the VAFA before joining Collingwood's VFL team in 2011.

He booted 21 goals in eight games, before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. 

Eddy moved to South Adelaide in 2013 where he fine-tuned his game under coach Brad Gotch. 

"The last three years at South I've improved my all-round game, offensively and defensively, whereas three or four years ago, I was a mark and kick goals type player," Eddy said.

"He's taught me little things to improve on.

"He's a pretty straight down the barrel type guy, he doesn't muck around."

Eddy will add to the Power's forward stocks after they delisted Jay Schulz and John Butcher at the end of last season.

"My focus is to get the respect of the playing group and the coaches pretty early on and work as hard as I can," Eddy said.

"I think if I can get really fit and strong over the next three months I think there's a spot there for me.

"If I'm banging down the door, opportunity will come."

Along with Eddy, the Power selected Norwood ruck Peter Ladhams and Sturt winger Jarrod Lienert in the rookie draft.

They also added Ugandan-born midfielder Emmanuel Irra as a Category B rookie.