WHEN TOM Mitchell was drafted via the father-son rule in 2011, there were high expectations about the type of player the Sydney Swans were getting and the career that lay in front of him.

So far, things haven't quite gone to plan. But 18 months on from that draft, Mitchell can finally make a welcome admission.

"I'm feeling 100 per cent," he told AFL.com.au.

"It's the first time since being at the Swans I've been injury-free.

"It feels good."

Taken with pick 21, there was widespread belief Mitchell would have been a top 10 selection had he been available to all clubs, following a junior career personified by toughness and huge possession counts.

But the Swans moved quickly to secure his services courtesy of father Barry's 170 games at the club, which yielded an All Australian jumper, a best and fairest award and last year a spot in their Hall of Fame.

With his signature secured, Mitchell finished his year 12 exams, packed his bags and headed east from his home in Perth.

Unfortunately, that's when the problems started. 

"When I first got here, my first pre-season, the knee tendinitis first came on," he says.

"I carried that throughout the year and tried to manage it, but couldn't quite get on top of it."

There were flashes of brilliance, including a 35-possession, six-mark, one-goal effort in limited game time in just his third appearance in the reserves, but the midfielder couldn't stay on the park consistently.

A stress fracture in his foot then brought the curtain down on a frustrating first year in red and white.

The knee tendinitis was still a concern for his second pre-season, but he gradually built his conditioning and fitness before returning to full training.

Two weeks ago he checked off a personal milestone – playing his first full match in the reserves without restrictions.

Mitchell, who turns 20 later this month, was then named among the best players in last week's win over the UWS Giants.

"Injuries are always going to be frustrating and I had to get my head around getting my body right before I can get on the field and contribute," he said.

"But I'm on top of it now and it's good to be back playing.

"The last two weeks I've played full game time. Since I've been at the club, they're the first full games I've played."

The next question, naturally, is when will he be ready to break into the senior team and play his first AFL game?

"We'd like to give him another few games before we consider him for senior selection," coach John Longmire said.

"But he's coming along well. He's been able to train and play regularly over the last six-to-seven weeks and that's shown in the way he's performing.

"He hasn't played a lot of footy over the last 18 months, so learning our structure and style of play is something he'll benefit from over the next few weeks.

"But he's heading in the right direction."

Considering his injury troubles, Mitchell is reluctant to look too far ahead.

But he knows his AFL dream is inching closer.

"You always have to keep yourself level-headed and focus on the moment," he said.

"If you drift too far away that's when things can turn sour.

"It's always been a dream to play AFL, but I probably don't even want to think about senior footy at this stage.

"I'm just focusing on improving and building my match fitness and hopefully I'll get an opportunity soon."

James Dampney is a reporter for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD