Making an AFL list is no easy feat.

Making an AFL list at 22 years old is even more difficult.

Rhett Montgomerie understands this better than most.

After toiling away in the SANFL for six seasons, Montgomerie finally has his chance, being picked up in this year’s rookie draft by Essendon.

Anyone who speaks to him will know that this opportunity is one he's ready to grab with both hands.

“It’s been a long journey and it was definitely not the conventional way to get into the AFL system,” Montgomerie said.

“I played six seasons at Central District Football Club, was overlooked in a lot of state teams, combines and never really had any AFL interest until about a few months ago.”

“I’m stoked I am at the club now.”

For many, the dream may have begun to fade each year when their name was not read out in the draft, but for Montgomerie, this changed nothing.

While he continued to dream, Montgomerie has been preparing his life outside footy, having just completed his third year of his university degree whilst working casually as a labourer.

“I was at Uni studying primary PE teaching, I recently just finished my third year, meaning I only have one more to go,” Montgomerie said.

“I’ll look at doing one-two subjects a semester while I play footy.”

Even with all this occurring outside of footy, Montgomerie knew that it was probably his last opportunity to make it happen.

“You get to 22, what I am now, and you start to think that the other side of 22 is probably getting on a little bit,” he said.

“When you hit 24, 25, it's almost impossible to get picked up, so I knew it was either this season gone or next year that I could make my push for AFL.”

Knowing this, Montgomerie decided to take his professionalism to the next level.

“In the off-season I put a massive emphasis on getting my body right,” he said.

“I hurt my knee the season before, so a lot of strength work around that.

“I was a lot better with my training and recovery standards as well.”

It paid off, with Montgomerie having his best season to date averaging 14.7 disposals and taking a massive 7.9 marks per game.

This led to his first ever selection into the SANFL team of the year.

From there, the AFL interest followed.

“I knew there was a little bit of interest there, I had few chats with a few clubs,” he said.

“Watching the national draft, I didn’t think I was much of a chance, honestly, I was kind of looking for a miracle.

“Rookie draft day came around and I was spending the day playing golf when I got a call from the Bombers and hinted that they might take me.”

The rest is history and now Montgomerie has made the move interstate to begin his AFL journey.

“I have been staying down at Jye Caldwell and Kaine Baldwin’s place which has been really good,” he said.

“I’m stoked to come back after Christmas and begin to get more settled, but I’m really excited to get stuck into Melbourne and what it has to offer.

“My family is stoked for me, they know footy was my dream and that I went for Essendon.”

Finally, having made his way to an AFL club, Montgomerie knows that the real work is about to begin.

“The obvious aim for me is to make my debut this year,” Montgomerie said.

“Other than that, I will be looking to seek out as many learnings I can from the other players and coaching staff, just generally looking to better my footy.”