THANKFULLY for the Brisbane Lions the AFL has not introduced an uncle-nephew drafting rule, or Rohan Bewick might be wearing the red and black of Essendon.

Bewick grew up as a mad Bombers supporter, following his uncle Darren who was a two-time premiership player and fan favourite at Windy Hill.

Darren's blistering pace and goal sense earned him 238 senior matches, two flags and 332 goals.

And even though he retired in 2000, when Rohan was just 11, it was only natural the youngster would support the team his uncle starred for.

But it mattered for little when the 21-year-old was listed by Gold Coast and traded to the Lions in the deal that sent Jared Brennan to the Suns.

"I was that excited I'd been picked up by an AFL club I didn't really mind where it was," Bewick said.

He was a late bloomer and has overcome a string of injuries in the past two seasons to fulfil his AFL dream.

The wing/half forward played the last two seasons with WAFL club West Perth and suffered two broken ankles (2009) and a broken tibia (2010) before coming to Brisbane.

Since being with the Lions he's had a stress fracture to his shin that cost seven weeks in pre-season and a back injury that sidelined him for two matches in the regular season.

Despite his relatively slight 184cm, 76kg frame, Bewick is not easily deterred.

"Hopefully all the bad luck's gone now," he said.

"Pre-season was pretty tough, doing four gym sessions a week. But it was pretty smooth going to professional training, I didn't feel out of my depth.

"Maybe after I've played 20-odd games I might start feeling like my spot is a bit more permanent and feel a bit more comfortable."

Bewick has played five matches and already shown his capacity to run hard in both directions, racking up 23 disposals in his second match against the Western Bulldogs.

At the NAB AFL Draft Combine he scored 14.7 on the beep test and clocked 10.18 for the 3km time trial and has also shown his vertical leap by taking Mark of the Week against the Bombers last weekend.

Bewick said he had had no trouble fitting in with his new teammates since moving from one side of the country to the other.

He lived with Tom Rockliff and Jack Redden when he first arrived in November, but has since moved in with fellow Western Australian Daniel Rich.

"I knew of him in Perth. I'm a year older but I was no good and still in amateurs when he was winning premierships for Subiaco at 16 and 17," Bewick said.

"Richy's into his golf and surfing so when we have a day off we go down the coast for a surf but I'm still really learning both."

If he goes on to have half the career of his uncle, the Lions will be more than glad they grabbed this little Bewick.