Top Fremantle draft pick Adam Sweid has “never been this happy” as he waits patiently for an opportunity with the league-leading Dockers.

The first-round draft pick has made an impressive start to his senior career at Peel Thunder, with Justin Longmuir’s 11-1 side handing out just one AFL debut this season.

In an interview with The West Australian where he opened up on his eye-opening first eight months on the Dockers’ list, Sweid said key forward Josh Treacy — who he calls “unc” (short for uncle) — has become an unlikely mentor for him despite their different roles.

Sweid averages 13.6 touches a game and has kicked five goals from his seven matches as a pressure forward for the Thunder this season.

He had another 14 touches in Sunday’s win over West Coast.

“I’ve never been this happy with my football because of just the boys I have in front of me,” Sweid told The West Australian.

“I know it’s definitely a patience game when you’re an 18-year-old and you see people around your age and they’re debuting for other teams, but I just know in my opinion, no one’s getting the development like me.

“I just want to keep learning, do my recovery, do my preparations, my routine and become more of a professional and I believe my work’s going to pay off.

“I know when my turns come, I’ll be ready.”

Sweid said the tight-knit Fremantle forward group — starring at AFL level — have become his biggest influences at the club, including Treacy and Sam Switkowski.

“Every rookie has got an old man, and I think the unc for me would be JT, to be honest he’s a young one, but he’s the leader in the group, along with Switta,” he said.

“Just his professionalism for a 23 year old, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it.

“He took me under his wing and I don’t shut up in the gym, I don’t shut up in training I always ask so many questions for JT and the other boys, and they just always give me the answer that I need, not what I want.

Watching Murphy Reid establish himself at AFL level has provided added motivation for Sweid, saying his rapid rise had given him confidence that hard work would eventually be rewarded.

“You look at the confidence (Reid) has, he wants me to have that confidence, because he’s such a talent,”

“If I’m seeing Murphy Reid doing that, he gives you the belief that if you just work hard and you’re consistent, opportunities are going to come for sure.”

Sweid landed at the Dockers after they placed a bid on the Bombers’ next generation academy product with pick No.25 in last years draft.

While being overlooked by Essendon initially stung, Sweid said his focus had quickly shifted towards repaying Fremantle’s faith in him.

“To be honest, it went from I want to prove Essendon wrong, to now I want to prove Freo right,” he said.

“I haven’t even thought about the NGA stuff since the draft night, like I don’t really care about that anymore, because that’s in the past, and I’m at Fremantle, and I just want to stay here for as long as possible.

“I’m just so happy they picked me and I’m living out my dream at the moment, and I’m just so happy to be here.”

In a short space of time Sweid has already matured beyond his age. The 18-year-old said his understanding of football had already changed dramatically since entering the AFL system.

“I was definitely one of those boys that looked into the stats and I was definitely one of those boys that thought stats meant everything,” he said.

“And now I believe I’m playing good footy, and I haven’t looked at the stats once because I now know what wins your games is doing the effort and doing the role for the team.”