He's had to wait a long time - longer than most - but finally, this Sunday, David Mirra will run out onto the MCG to live his AFL dream.

1,489 draftees found their places on AFL list between Mirra's first nomination for the draft in 2009 and Hawthorn selecting him via the Rookie Draft in November last year.

Now, just three rounds into his first year on an AFL list, Mirra is one of the lucky ones preparing to play his first game.

"I just found out now that I'll be making my debut," he said on Friday morning.

"It's pretty crazy, to think that I'm going to be out there this week playing an AFL game.

"To be here is quite surreal."

Mirra has spent most of his 20s with Hawthorn's VFL affiliate Box Hill, captaining the side from 2014 to 2017, regularly watching current and former teammates get their AFL call up.

This year, this week, the newly-wed 27-year-old will be the one pulling on the boots.

"It's been a massive whirlwind the last month," he said.

"I got married... I'm debuting this week, everything is happening at the moment.

"I'm still pinching myself."

See Hawthorn's final Round 4 team here.