Talented club junior, Henry Delves, headlines a recruiting bonanza which includes two fellow Ainslie premiership players Jack and Tom Powell. And young ruckman Riley Irvin is also headed home.

Delves has represented AFL Canberra with distinction (including kicking three goals in an impressive effort in their 2017 win against Riverina) as well as captained Ainslie, a powerhouse club in the Canberra competition.

Griffith president Jeff Harris said they would've been thrilled to find any key forward of Delves' calibre but to have one coming home is special.

"We're pretty excited about that. We're pretty strong about bringing back locals where we can and we've talked to Henry for a number of seasons so it was nice that it's come to fruition this year," Harris said.

"He left Griffith an exceptional young kid and talented footballer and he certainly progressed.

"His footy resume speaks for itself. They're hard to find those premium forwards and I doubt that we would've been able to find a better footballer even outside of being a local."

Delves played a handful of games in 2015 for Griffith, and shone, while home from university. But the former ruckman made his name in Canberra as a key forward and winning multiple premierships with the Tricolours.

He kicked 22 goals in eight games in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, including three hauls of five or more. (They were exactly his stats in 2015 in his cameos with the Swans in 2015).

"He's quite dynamic and he can certainly play a number of roles for us, depending on injuries or anything else so he gives us plenty of flexibility in the talls area," Harris said.

Now in his mid-20s, Delves will be based in Canberra for work but is likely to be available to train most Thursday nights.

His Ainslie teammates Jack and Tom Powell are also destined to be dressed in red and white, adding class and experience to the Swans midfield.

Jack Powell was widely considered a genuine AFL draft prospect just three years ago.

"They're great ins as well," Harris said.

"Jack played in the same age group as Nathan Richards and they played quite a bit of footy together through the academy programs and the Allies and the junior representative side of things.

"He was very unlucky by all reports to not find a spot on an AFL list so he's a very talented young kid."

Jack Powell was also a regular NEAFL player for the Canberra Demons while brother Tom is considered to be in the same mould and the pair bring Canberra premiership experience to the Riverina League.

"Both don't mind finding the footy and are talented users of the footy as well," Harris said.

"They'll slot into our midfield, give us a bit of depth, and help steer some of the kids we'll have rolling through their as well."

The Swans sat out the AFL Riverina Championship last season and, since consecutive grand final appearances before that, have seen coach Will Griggs and star midfielder Jordan Iudica head back to Canberra, and Heath Northey and Guy Orton move on.

They see Blake Argus, Kahlan Spencer and Jack Rowston as their midfielders of the future, and ruckman Riley Irvin's return will be a big addition.

Irvin played a full season in 2018, including the grand final, before moving away.

"He's a definite in for us, he's home from uni and has committed for the year," Harris said.

"He was our young ruckman who settled really well into senior footy. He's mobile, hard-working and the idea of having him and Nathan Richards working in tandem should give us first use of the footy as well."

The Swans are confident that under non-playing coach Greg Dreyer, who took over from Griggs, they'll have the personnel to build a competitive and exciting outfit.

"We have exceptional kids that have either already played senior footy or are about to and have been knocking on the door," Harris said.

"Some of those have probably been a little bit starved of opportunity because we've had a really successful senior side but we want to make sure our structure is right, and we've got a bit of balance to help those kids learn their craft and keep on developing for us.

"That was identitied as a club priority and it's pretty exciting to see what those kids will produce for us as footballers."