Darcy Gardiner was the last of the Lions’ latest crop of draftees to arrive in Brisbane on Friday ready to start his first AFL pre-season.

Gardiner had remained in his home town of Leopold in country Victoria for an extra few days to attend his high school graduation.

But less than 24 hours later, the 18-year-old was training alongside some of his new teammates at Giffin Park, Coorparoo.

Fortunately there were more than a few familiar faces among the group to help him settle in easily.

“I’ve found it to be really good. Everyone’s been easy to get along with,” Gardiner said.

“I knew four of the guys (Nick Robertson, James Aish, Tom Cutler, and Lewis Taylor) pretty well (through the AIS-AFL Academy), and I knew Dan McStay through the Draft Combine, so everyone sort of knew each other before we got up here.”

Gardiner was also reunited with Michael Close, with whom he played alongside during the 2012 U18 National Championships with Victoria Country.

He is one of six draftees who are temporarily being accommodated at a nearby apartment block in Kangaroo Point.

The Lions have high hopes that Gardiner can eventually hold down one of the key defensive posts at the Club for a long period of time.

After all, the 2013 National Draft’s first selection, Tom Boyd, listed Gardiner as his toughest opponent at junior level – setting up a potential long-term rivalry between the respective big men from the Lions and Giants.