SAM REID'S initiation to the AFL taught him plenty about what was required at the top level.

Brought in for last year's round 22 clash with the Brisbane Lions, Reid found himself standing alongside Lion man-mountain Daniel Merrett.

While he performed admirably, gathering 13 touches and taking eight marks, he realised he needed to work on his strength if he was going to match it with the big boys.

"Merrett's quite a strong bloke so that gave me an idea I needed to put on a bit of size and strength to match it with the key defenders if I was going to be a key position player," Reid said.

So in his second pre-season with the Swans, Reid hit the weights room, but was cautious not to go too hard on his developing body.

"I put on about four or five kilos since last year. They've told me up here they don't want me to put on too much too quickly. My body probably won't be able to handle it if I stack it on too quickly," Reid said.

The difference has seen Reid become a vital part of the Swans outfit this season.

He has played every game so far this season and his performance against Richmond on the weekend earned him a nomination for the NAB AFL Rising Star.

Reid, much like his team was wasteful in front of goal, kicking 2.5.

While disappointed with his conversion, he says he was encouraged by his ability to win the ball in front of the goals.

"It probably was a surprise. I didn't kick straight but I look at the positives. I had six shots at goal in the first half so I'll take that any day of the week," he said.

Reid's nomination comes exactly one year after his older brother Ben was nominated for his role in Collingwood's Queen's Birthday clash with Melbourne.

While two-and-a-half years older than Sam, Ben took longer to become settled at AFL level, but has now become a vital part of the Magpie back six.

And the little brother couldn't be happier for him.

"To see him getting a full season in and playing finals and how great that was for him, it was a bit of motivation to show what you can really do," he said.

"When he was drafted at Collingwood he was even five or eight kilos lighter than I was when I first started. He had to stack on a bunch of weight and he stacked on a fair bit pretty quickly.  It took him a while for his legs to adjust and to pick up the pace of AFL."

The pair become the first set of brothers to both earn Rising Star nominations since the Brown twins, Nathan and Mitchell, in 2008 and 2009.

Sam and Ben played briefly together in the same junior Wangaratta Rovers team when Sam was just 11 and also briefly played on each other in a NAB Challenge game earlier this season.

And there is every chance they will be opposed to one another when the Swans take on the Magpies at ANZ Stadium in round 14.

Sam says there has been little banter between the two.

"No, he's been alright. It's mostly constructive talk he's been giving me. It's two weeks until we play them and I'm looking forward to it," he said.

Reid might be pursuing his AFL dream in a different state to his brother, but he says he has built a close network since arriving at the Swans when he was drafted with pick 39 at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.

"I think that's what makes this club such a tight group. Everyone's in the same boat. Most guys are from interstate so when they come here they don't really know anyone outside the footy club," he said.

"You're sort of forced to hang around the guys from the footy club and it does make you bond a lot quicker and get to know each other."