The mature age recruit was one of 25 players named by Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley ahead of the Black and White's opening fixture of the 2013 season, with his stellar pre-season form placing him in firm contention to make his debut this weekend.
Buckley said Dwyer's elevation was due reward for his impressive and consistent application on the training track since his arrival at the club late last year.
"He's a hard working mid-forward who has played a number of roles for us over the pre-season. He's a smart player, makes really good decisions defensively, and uses the ball in effective spots," Buckley said.
"Sam's gone about it the right way in training and practice matches, and we're very happy to reward him with the opportunity."
While Dwyer was only elevated to Collingwood's senior list this week, his rise to the elite level has been anything but sudden, and indeed represents an antithesis to the overnight success story.
Despite impressing at TAC Cup level for the Geelong Falcons as a teenager, Dwyer was overlooked in the national draft, instead joining VFL side Port Melbourne in 2005.
Winning Port Melbourne's reserve team Best and Fairest award in 2006 before claiming the senior team prize in 2009 and a VFL Premiership in 2011, Dwyer's ever improving displays soon piqued the interest of AFL recruiters.
However, he remained overlooked until last season, when he earned state selection, was named in the 2012 VFL Team of the Year, overcame a broken leg which threatened his finals participation, and at 25, was duly selected at pick 27 in the AFL Rookie Draft.
Director of Football Geoff Walsh revealed the club had long been tracking Dwyer's progress at VFL, and was delighted to be able to recognise his impressive pre-season with a spot on the senior list.
"He'd been knocking on the door for a while with his form in the VFL," Walsh said.
"Sam played at Port Melbourne in a premiership team and I know our recruiting team, as I'm sure other AFL recruiting teams did, had him on their radar for a few years.
"It's just great for him to get the opportunity with us, and even more pleasing to display the form he has shown over the summer which has resulted in him earning a spot on our primary list as a long term injury replacement."
Although Dwyer's age belies his relative lack of experience, Walsh believes his unorthodox path to AFL level leaves him well prepared to endure the trials and tribulations of life as an elite footballer.
"At his age, he has seen some of life's experiences that the 17 and 18 year old boys are yet to taste so I think that stands him in good stead for the ups and downs of AFL footy, for the ups and downs of life," Walsh said.
"He comes into the club with a more rounded, and I suppose a more mature background, but certainly a background that has experienced a much broader spectrum of life than a normal AFL recruit."
