AFTER two injury plagued seasons, new Eagle Tom Swift is only looking to the future after being taken by West Coast in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft.

A joyous Swift greeted the media just an hour after his selection on Saturday morning and contrasted the elation of being drafted to an AFL club with the devastation he felt when his knees twice failed him at crucial stages over the past 24 months.

"Totally different feelings, just totally opposite ends of the spectrum," the promising West Australian said at Subiaco Oval. "One just absolute devastation when I hurt my knee and now just jubilation."

Swift said his knees are now perfect and all his recent medical reports make positive reading.

The highly-rated midfielder has gone through something of an ordeal since rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in 2007, on the eve of an AFL-AIS Academy trip to South Africa.

A recap shows just what an achievement being taken with West Coast's third selection overall (pick 20) is.

A 12-month rehabilitation followed that setback but, a week before this year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, injury struck Swift once more.

"Everything was looking really good at that stage, I was starting to really play some good footy and get some real confidence up. I really couldn't control what happened from then on," he said.

"Once it's happened to you once you think you're a bit cursed (and) it's just going to keep happening to you, but I managed to get through that and I'm not looking back, I'm just going to look forward from now on."

While Swift's second knee injury denied him the chance to showcase his talents at the national carnival he was back on his feet in time for October's NAB AFL Draft Camp.

On the back of a regular routine of cycling, swimming and boxing he impressed in the athletic testing. 

The 18-year-old is now excited about commencing his first AFL pre-season, with the chance to stay in WA and be a part of a rebuilding club a welcome bonus.

"Just being able to get out there around guys like Dean Cox and Daniel Kerr, to have the privilege to run around the paddock with blokes like that is just going to be unreal," he said.

"Two years ago when I did my first knee I thought it was all over to tell you the truth, I didn't think I had much hope.

"To be here two years down the track, words can't describe it."