The Sydney Swans football department are licking their collective lips at the prospect of selecting two of the country’s 15 best youngsters at the NAB AFL Draft on Thursday.

For the first time since 2002, the Swans will have a selection inside the top 10 with pick No.6.

No doubt they will be hoping this year’s first pick will be as successful as their most recent top-end selection - 2008 Bob Skilton medallist Jarrad McVeigh.

“To be able to get two in the first round is something we haven’t been faced with for quite a while,” coaching co-ordinator John Longmire said.

“It’s good to be able to get access what we think will be a couple of handy players for us.”

Some of the players likely to be available include lively half-forward Gary Rohan, key forward John Butcher - both Victorians - and hard-running WA midfielder Kane Lucas.

Pending other clubs’ selections, the likes of tall WA midfielder Anthony Morabito - who has been likened to Adam Goodes - and Victorian hard nut Ben Cunnington could also be available.

The Swans have another crack at the first round with pick No.14 and that’s where the choices will start to become more difficult, according to Longmire.

“[Pick 14] obviously depends a bit on what we get at pick six. I think as a general rule, you’d like best available but you’ve got to be wary of your needs as well,” he said.

“It’s good to get a balance between the two if you possibly can.”

Thursday night’s draft will be the culmination of years of work for the club’s recruiting staff, who have watched countless live games as well as hundreds of hours of video to assess this year’s crop of talent.

Longmire said while the coaching staff had their own opinions about different players, the recruiters’ words carried significant weight on draft day.

“We go through roughly what the recruiters think will be available in the first 20-odd players,” he said.

“We spend a bit of time going through all the vision, as all clubs do, and really taking on board what the recruiters are saying because they’re the ones who have watched the kids all year.”