HAWTHORN'S trio of draftees arrived at Waverley on Monday morning for training full of enthusiasm... before they received a gentle reminder of just how tough their initiation into the AFL will be.

Brad Hill, Jordan Kelly and Alex Woodward participated in their first hit-out with their new club, after being picked up in Thursday night's NAB AFL Draft.

Local lad, Kelly, selected second with pick No. 38 overall, said the session with the club's senior players indicated just how much work was in front of the teenage trio over the next few months.

"It was interesting. The intensity is up from TAC level but I enjoyed it," Kelly said.

"It was exciting but a little bit intimidating. You know you're not quite at their level just yet but there's a long hard road ahead and it's good to start."

To help the boys adjust, the Hawks have them living with senior players - Hill with Michael Osborne, Kelly with Grant Birchall and Woodward with Josh Gibson.

There was also a barbeque held for the players and their families at coach Alastair Clarkson's house on Sunday afternoon.

Woodward (a Fremantle supporter who lives locally) was picked third with selection No. 53. He said said it had been surreal driving to the club on Monday with his new housemate.

"I came to training with Josh Gibson today and that was just surreal, watching him on TV last year and the next thing I'm sitting next to him going to training," Woodward said.

"I live down the road so I've seen these guys train before but it's pretty crazy seeing Buddy and stuff next to you."

Hill, brother of Fremantle's Stephen and second cousin of Essendon ruckman Patrick Ryder, arrived in Melbourne from Perth on Saturday night and was collected from the airport by Cyril Rioli.

He was the club's first pick, selected with No. 33 overall.

The naturally athletic midfielder, who shone at the October NAB AFL Combine when he broke the beep-test record with a score of 16.1 and won the 3km time trial in 9.52 minutes, said his two relatives had already given him some advice.

"[Stephen] was there with me the day I got drafted so we had a talk," Hill said.

"He just said see you out on the footy field, I guess. It would be good to come up against him.

"He just said to be focused and train hard.

"I spoke to [Ryder] on the phone on Sunday and we'll catch up for lunch soon."

Woodward, a tough inside midfielder who captained the Sandringham Dragons to the TAC Cup premiership this year, said he had developed as a leader across the past 12 months.

He also said he aimed to play senior football in 2012 and looked forward to working with the Hawks' bevy of experienced midfielders.

"Naturally, I'm a quiet, actions-speak-louder-than-words kind of person but this year in the TAC Cup with the Dragons I really developed as a leader in terms of off the field and on the field," Woodward said.

"I just want to make a good impression at the club, play some consistent footy at VFL level and then hopefully crack a game here.

"I've got great resources in Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis and Brad Sewell, so I'll really try and learn a lot from them.

"With those players around me I'll not only learn a lot but I'll develop as a person and as a footballer but I'm willing to wait [to play seniors]."

Kelly, a growing defender who likens his game to that of Gibson and Dale Morris, with a bit of Campbell Brown's "grunt" added in, said he was realistic he would have to add some bulk to his 192cm, 81kg frame before he was considered to play the role of a third tall defender.

"I think my goal now is to play a NAB Cup game and see how I go from there," he said.

"I've got a lot of weight to put on so I'm not expecting to play next year.

"[To be here] is a good feeling, one I've been waiting for for a long time and it's finally come true."