The 18-year old grew up in Culcairn in the Riverina and came through the PM Capital GIANTS Academy before moving to Sydney and playing for the UWS GIANTS and Sydney Hills Eagles in the NEAFL.
Finlayson and Canberra local Jack Steele both secured a spot on the GIANTS list at today's NAB AFL Academy Players Bidding Meeting.
The GIANTS will select Finlayson with the club's final draft pick after no other clubs bid on him, while pick 23 will be used on Steele matching a second-round bid from North Melbourne.
"I'm pretty rapt with how things have worked out," Finlayson said.
"Last night was pretty rough, I didn't get much sleep because I had so many things running through my head but it was great to get the good news this morning."
"Being involved with the academy has really helped me develop as a player and this club already feels like home to me because I've spent so much time here over the last two years."
Finlayson is a 195cm mobile forward who also has the ability to play in defence, on the wing and in the ruck.
He has a strong pair of hands and possesses good athleticism to create second and third efforts when around the ball.
Playing for the NSW/ACT Rams in the 2014 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, Finlayson averaged 12 disposals and 3.7 marks.
Finlayson was one of four players who spent a week with the GIANTS in January this year and was mentored by GIANTS forward Jeremy Cameron.
"Jeremy would always text me to see how I was going and to give me advice," Finlayson said.
"Every time I'm at the club I see how professional the players are and I can’t wait to get stuck into a big pre-season.”
Finlayson and Steele will officially join the GIANTS in next month’s 2014 NAB AFL Draft.
