Western Australian number four draft pick Logan McDonald is making an early impression on John Longmire, the 18-year-old’s work rate catching the eye of the Sydney coach this preseason.

McDonald had a dominant season last year with Perthin the WAFL, helping the Demons end their finals drought with 21 goals in nine games, including four marks per match.

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That form has followed the youngster across the Nullarbor and while he may not debut round one, Longmire anticipates a big future for their prized recruit with the Swans.

"It's just work rate (with McDonald). He works really hard," Longmire told AFL.com.au.

"The fact that he played senior football over in Perth and was so competitive and so consistent, it meant that there was some sort of drive there underneath him to get there and do that. He's shown great improvement over the years, getting better and better.

"His athleticism and that drive and that continuous rate of improvement that he's had over the last few years, that was what really stood out. There were plenty of good players, we liked them all, but I thought he was a beauty. You can't have them all obviously, but we were really comfortable with the two that we picked up in that top-five."

The 196cm first year player has all the tools to become a productive key forward but while Longmire sees a role for McDonald this season, the Swans will take their time bringing the youngster in as the teenager’s body adapts to the rigours of AFL footy. 

"A lot of the draftees play pretty early now. Not all of them, but some of them do," Sydney coach John Longmire said.

"Certainly, over the last couple of years, our boys have been in that boat. A number of them have come in and played pretty early on. But he'll play when he's ready. We won't force him into it. He's still building up, it's unrealistic to consider that an 18-year-old will come in and hold down centre half-forward in his first year or two. But we think that he's got a role to play.

"We'd like some experience around him as he learns the game and takes the bigger-bodied defenders. Who knows where that goes? You couldn't say it's beyond him, because of what he did last year at senior WAFL level. He had a fantastic season, he played with men and he did really well. That's a really good sign."