Geelong used its first pick in Saturday's national draft to nab hard-running Western Jets onballer Brent Prismall.

Prismall headed a list of four players Geelong had pencilled in for pick 32 and the Cats had no hesitation in securing him.

The 184cm, 83kg inside midfielder has spent the past two years under Leigh Tudor and Garry Hocking at the Jets.

Prismall's size means he should have every chance of playing senior football next year and that is his goal.

"When I'm ready hopefully I'll be given the opportunity and whether that's next year it's not for me to say but I think I can play AFL next year,'' Prismall said.

"I can't wait to get there, they've got a young and exciting list and I'm sure I'll fit in. They seem like a tight-knit group.''

Prismall is regarded as a having fantastic foot skills and endurance, with a 14.2 beep test rated as the fifth best at this year's draft camp. Geelong's recruiting manager Stephen Wells said he was confident the Cats were going to secure Prismall with their first selection. "It was about picking the best player, the guy most likely to play AFL footy and the fact that he's a midfielder was a little bit insignificant, but we thought he fitted in our needs pretty well,'' he said.

"He played very well with Vic Metro, who had a strong midfield group, and he was very good with the Western Jets all year, averaging 25 possessions. You take it all into account - the physical capabilities, footy abilities, location, character, when you're developing your priority list - but we're happy with the way he's going to develop over the next period.

"The fact that he's already physically OK is a bonus.''

Thompson said Tudor's arrival had only reinforced the club's thinking, with Wells having "liked him for a long time''.

"He's got a great attitude to training, to his footy, he's a footy head, he just watches it all day and trains really hard,'' Thompson said.

Prismall, who said the Kangaroos and Geelong had shown the most pre-draft interest, was bracing himself for disappointment and decided to listen to the radio broadcast with girlfriend Nicole inside his car.

"I just thought I'd keep it low-key and as soon as my name was read out I was pretty emotional and it was a big weight off my shoulders,'' he said.