FIRST-round ruck draftee Toby Conway has earmarked 2022 as a season to develop his 18-year-old frame and ready himself for the rigours of AFL ruck craft.

Track watchers could be excused for thinking the 205cm and 100-kilogram teen was ready for anything thrown at him at him in 2022, but the Geelong Falcons product is more circumspect.

“I’m just taking it a week at a time at this stage. It’s pretty unrealistic for me to say that I’ll get a game this year,” Conway says.

“I think I just need to try and stay fit and healthy and have a really good year in the VFL and stay as strong as possible and be consistent. Try not to miss any sessions and just keep developing that way.”

Conway has a host of experienced AFL rucks in his corner and is taking in their advice like a sponge.

“Rhys Stanley has been unbelievable,” he says.

“I’ve been rucking against him a lot and he’s really willing to teach me everything and he’s got a lot of experience and knows a lot so I’m just trying to do as much with him as possible.

“Cegs (Jonathon Ceglar) also, he’s on the sidelines at the moment after a bit of knee surgery, so he’s been watching me and how I go about it and been teaching me a bit from there.

“It’s been unreal, there’s a lot of experience in there (ruck group) and a lot of youth as well so we’re all working together as a team and trying to stay fit and healthy and then attack the season.”

Facing off against the likes of Stanley and Ceglar across the ruck circle has been a new experience for the fledgling tall.

“It’s been really hard. I’ve had to focus a lot more on my craft rather than focusing on my strength which I did have the advantage over the 18-year-old ruckmen last year,” he says.

“It’s been great for me because in past seasons I haven’t had too many ruckmen to go up against, so it’s been unreal to have that challenge.

“It’s been really good for me, just trying to learn my craft now instead of just being able to rely solely on size and strength.

“It will be good for me in the next few years when I start to get bigger in the gym and develop a bit.”

Conway was impressive in this week’s intra-club practice match, with his soft hands and deft tap-work a key feature of his performance.

Releasing the likes of Patrick Dangerfield into space from the stoppages was an enjoyable experience.

“He makes me look good I think, definitely,” Conway says on Dangerfield.

“You can tap it just within a five metre radius and he’ll still get there so it makes it pretty easy for me.

“It is pretty surreal when you go into the huddle and you’re talking to Danger and Selwood and Parfitt and those likes. It’s been unbelievable.”

With more repetitions lining up inside the centre square alongside those Cats heavy hitters, Conway is starting to feel like he belongs.

“I think I’m getting a bit more comfortable now with my own environment,” he says.

“With any new job you’re always going to be a bit shy and a bit nervous and a bit out of your comfort zone but I’m definitely coming into it now and getting a bit more comfortable.”