A change in attitude from Sydney's Lewis Johnston means the first-round pick from the 2008 AFL draft will make his debut on the weekend.

The 192cm key-position player will become Sydney's fifth debutant for the season when he battles North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Johnston was drafted by the Swans with the 12th overall pick in the 2008 draft, but has since found it difficult adjusting to the demands of the AFL.

Natural talent has never been an issue, but Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh suggested it was only this season Johnston worked out what was required by the club.

"We've spoken to him quite a few times to work on his game and his attitude," McVeigh said.

"When you get drafted in the first round, you think you're going to come in and play straight away, but you have to learn what it takes to play AFL footy.

"He really wanted to play senior footy, but I don't think he knew how, what was required.

"It's finally clicked for him this year."

Johnston has waited longer than most youngsters from his draft, with Geelong's Mitch Brown and Western Bulldogs' Ayce Cordy the only other 2008 first-round selections yet to play AFL.

Brown (broken leg) and Cordy (two shoulder reconstructions) have both had a wretched run with injuries, while Johnston hasn't enjoyed much luck either, missing the entire 2009 season with a foot injury.

McVeigh, a mentor to Johnston since his return from injury, has noted a major lift in the 20-year-old's work off the field this season.

"He's really learnt this year, he's really studied a lot of the best forwards and the best defenders," he said.

"Over the last two years, I've been working closely with him, being that link between the coaches and him.

"He's listened to what the coaches and the players have wanted from him."

It could be a difficult test for Johnston if coach John Longmire opts to deploy him in Sydney's misfiring forward line.

The absence of key target Daniel Bradshaw (knee) has forced Longmire to experiment with a series of makeshift full-forwards.

It hasn't been all that successful, with Ben McGlynn (16 goals) and Adam Goodes (10) the only players to have registered more than nine goals from the opening nine rounds.

The Swans' tally of 93 goals for the season means they are currently ranked 14th in the competition for points scored.

McVeigh described the forward line as a "work in progress" but maintained the issue was with his side's process, not their personnel.

"We're not too worried about it, the way the ball goes in there at the moment is probably our main concern."

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