But not rushing back late in the season in a bid to further impress AFL recruiters might yet be the smartest decision the then 17-year-old university student made during an injury-plagued two years.
Swift is considered among the best midfielders on offer in Saturday’s NAB AFL Draft but has endured a frustrating two years.
In 2007, on the eve of leaving for South Africa with the AIS-AFL Academy squad, the talented West Australian ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
He returned to the fold in 2008 but his knee troubles didn’t stop there. This time it was his right knee that buckled in WA’s final scratch match before the NAB AFL U18 championships.
Again Swift missed the season but there was some good news - the knee was not structurally damaged and there was no need for surgery.
“I guess I’m in a unique situation,” Swift said ahead of Saturday’s draft.
“I haven’t played too much footy over the last couple of years, so I’m sort of pretty excited to just to get into it and start playing again.
“If my name gets called out I’ll get that opportunity. Yeah, I’m a bit nervous but [the feeling is] more just excitement, I guess.”
Some might have seen Swift’s second knee blow as more heartbreaking than his first setback.
However the youngster, who graduated from the AIS-AFL Academy alongside Trent Cotchin, Nicholas Naitanui and Hamish Hartlett, thinks he has come through the process a stronger person.
“In a way I was prepared for it [the second injury], having done the other knee,” he said.
“I guess in terms of this last injury and any injuries I have in the future, it’s sort of prepared me pretty well for whatever’s to come and I know the process now.
“Someone who’s never had an injury and comes into an AFL club and injures themself might not know how to handle it as well as I do, so I guess that’s a positive I can take out of it.”
The Collingwood supporter worked hard to overcome both injuries and, despite a limited preparation, surprised even himself with an impressive display at the AFL Draft Camp in October.
Those performances further convinced AFL recruiters of Swift’s athletic ability that had earlier surfaced not only on the footy field but also in the pool, tennis court and athletics track.
Talent scouts have long noticed Swift’s smarts on the ground but the 191cm midfielder doesn’t leave his brains behind when coming off the field.
Outside football, a part-time science studies might lead to a degree in engineering or possibly economics.
The son of two doctors, Swift says there has never been any pressure to follow in the footsteps of mum and dad.
“They’ve (my parents) always been supportive of whatever I want to do,” Swift said.
“At the moment the last thing I want to be is a doctor, I’ve already told them that.
“At the moment they’re probably a bit more excited about it [this weekend] than I am.”
Another person excited by Swift’s prospects is AFL Youth and High Performance Co-ordinator Jason McCartney.
“Tommy will be a really interesting one come draft day because he was in our AIS/AFL Academy last year and Daniel Rich was in that side at the time and I believe there wasn't much difference between the two of them,” McCartney said.
“What happened with Tom though was he did his knee in our first game in Perth on the way to South Africa and spent 12 months off in rehab. Coming back this year he had a setback with his opposite knee.
“He's a super intelligent kid and didn't miss a session in his rehab; he's very diligent in his preparation and has a high work ethic. So when he came to Draft Camp his speed was good and his beep test was good as well.
“He didn't end up playing, not because of the knee, but he's 191 cm now and he's had some growing pains with that. He's virtually missed nearly two years of footy, but I think he might surprise a few people with how high he gets taken.
“Tom sets really high standards for himself and he just wants to achieve.”
