2nds Official Swans Academy Thread (Player News and Discussion)

[SwansProudly]

2025 Academy games
Academy Fixture

Rep Footy is back in 2025! - Play AFL

AFL Sydney & AFL Canberra Under 22 Squads Announced Ahead of 2025 Summer Series

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YOUNG BLOODS

A 28 episode TikTok documentary series taking you behind the scenes with the next generation of Aussie Rules players at the Sydney Swans Academy, as eight teenagers chase their dreams of being drafted in the AFL or AFLW.

www.youngbloods.au

Instagram qbesydneyswansacademy
rustycrate

 

[rustycrate]

Suspect mcgroder will need to decide between athletics or footy in the next 12-24 months.

He might decide athletics. See how he goes. And then maybe AFL.
That is the thing with kids aspiring to .............
They need to see how good they can be.
If they perceive a limit. Then what other alternatives do I seek to achieve.

McGroder will decide what is best for the short term.
He may have ambitions for the long term too.
These are not mutually exclusive nor exclusive.

 

[Kbroome]

The problem for McGroder is that he probably needs to make a definite decision in the next 3-6 months. Don't think he has the junior career or accolades to warrant more than a rookie selection. If he was to go down the athletics path and burn say a year or two of his career.

Can you really pick a guy at 20 on potential or would you pick an 18 year old that is 2 years younger with more recent footy experience.

Just think in the position he is in if he wants footy he needs to stick with it now whereas if he wants Athletics he has the past performances and the ability there to walk almost straight back onto the scene

 

[bedford]

The problem for McGroder is that he probably needs to make a definite decision in the next 3-6 months. Don't think he has the junior career or accolades to warrant more than a rookie selection. If he was to go down the athletics path and burn say a year or two of his career.

Can you really pick a guy at 20 on potential or would you pick an 18 year old that is 2 years younger with more recent footy experience.

Just think in the position he is in if he wants footy he needs to stick with it now whereas if he wants Athletics he has the past performances and the ability there to walk almost straight back onto the scene

There are exceptions to things like that , so what if has a crack at other things and it doesn't work , he's still young. Look at VFL players getting a look in at 24/25

 

[anotherletdown]

The problem for McGroder is that he probably needs to make a definite decision in the next 3-6 months. Don't think he has the junior career or accolades to warrant more than a rookie selection. If he was to go down the athletics path and burn say a year or two of his career.

Can you really pick a guy at 20 on potential or would you pick an 18 year old that is 2 years younger with more recent footy experience.

Just think in the position he is in if he wants footy he needs to stick with it now whereas if he wants Athletics he has the past performances and the ability there to walk almost straight back onto the scene

I think the other way. AFL specific training will dull any athletics career and he won't be able to just step back into it.

How many chances do you get at a home Olympics or a full scholarship to a US college? He's far, far more talented as an athletics prospect and personally i think he's nuts even contemplating an AFL career at the moment. Look at Condon, agreed to join Collingwood but playing basketball in the USA until his dream is over. Blicavs has been unbelievably good coming out of an athletics background.

He can make his own mind up, but I'd be telling him to drop AFL now, when he's done with Athletics he'll go straight on to our cat B list and avoid the draft

 

[Kiama Chris]

I think the other way. AFL specific training will dull any athletics career and he won't be able to just step back into it.

How many chances do you get at a home Olympics or a full scholarship to a US college? He's far, far more talented as an athletics prospect and personally i think he's nuts even contemplating an AFL career at the moment. Look at Condon, agreed to join Collingwood but playing basketball in the USA until his dream is over. Blicavs has been unbelievably good coming out of an athletics background.

He can make his own mind up, but I'd be telling him to drop AFL now, when he's done with Athletics he'll go straight on to our cat B list and avoid the draft

I think the last para nails it provided that the experts in his camp (and himself!) believe that it will be possible for him to achieve his goals.

 

[Kbroome]

I think the other way. AFL specific training will dull any athletics career and he won't be able to just step back into it.

How many chances do you get at a home Olympics or a full scholarship to a US college? He's far, far more talented as an athletics prospect and personally i think he's nuts even contemplating an AFL career at the moment. Look at Condon, agreed to join Collingwood but playing basketball in the USA until his dream is over. Blicavs has been unbelievably good coming out of an athletics background.

He can make his own mind up, but I'd be telling him to drop AFL now, when he's done with Athletics he'll go straight on to our cat B list and avoid the draft

Don’t think the Swans will care too much for a 22-24 year old that is 5 years removed from footy.

That’s just the fact of it that it takes longer to climb the pyramid in AFL than it does long jump. Also given as said previously he has an u20 bronze at like 15 years old. Much better pedigree in that field.

Basically proving if he gives up footy it’s done. If he gives up athletics he could train back up for the 2032 olympics in 6 and a bit years

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Congrats to Colin, being named as the new AFLW senior coach!!!

 

[anotherletdown]

Don’t think the Swans will care too much for a 22-24 year old that is 5 years removed from footy.

That’s just the fact of it that it takes longer to climb the pyramid in AFL than it does long jump. Also given as said previously he has an u20 bronze at like 15 years old. Much better pedigree in that field.

Basically proving if he gives up footy it’s done. If he gives up athletics he could train back up for the 2032 olympics in 6 and a bit years

Mike Pyke disagrees. If you come out of a professional sporting program, have some running ability and can couple that with the right mentality and motivation I'd be pretty certain you can make it.

 

[dosser]

Mike Pyke disagrees. If you come out of a professional sporting program, have some running ability and can couple that with the right mentality and motivation I'd be pretty certain you can make it.

Olympic long jumping is a loooong way removed from playing professional contact ball sports. At least that's what Mike Pyke would say.

 

[Callipygian]

I think there is the possibility for McGroder of returning to footy after trying athletics on the world stage. However, I'm not sure Pyke has much to say about it.

McGroder has the advantage that he has been playing footy for some years through his youth, so he won't be picking it up from scratch. I think that Blicavs is a better comparison than Pyke, unless McGroder were ultimately to play ruck. Pyke was able to have a narrower focus than the average footy player because he played ruck. He focused (with a Mike-like determination) on learning ruckcraft plus was able to parlay his rugby into becoming a strong mark of the ball (even though in rugby one is not normally seeking to take the ball at one's highest point). Whereas McGroder will presumably have the potential to play other roles. I'm not even sure he has the height to play ruck: a year ago Athletics Australia described him as 6'3" (which is only about 190 cm) https://www.athletics.com.au/news/l...ustralian All Schools Athletics Championships..

 

[Kbroome]

I think there is the possibility for McGroder of returning to footy after trying athletics on the world stage. However, I'm not sure Pyke has much to say about it.

McGroder has the advantage that he has been playing footy for some years through his youth, so he won't be picking it up from scratch. I think that Blicavs is a better comparison than Pyke, unless McGroder were ultimately to play ruck. Pyke was able to have a narrower focus than the average footy player because he played ruck. He focused (with a Mike-like determination) on learning ruckcraft plus was able to parlay his rugby into becoming a strong mark of the ball (even though in rugby one is not normally seeking to take the ball at one's highest point). Whereas McGroder will presumably have the potential to play other roles. I'm not even sure he has the height to play ruck: a year ago Athletics Australia described him as 6'3" (which is only about 190 cm) https://www.athletics.com.au/news/lima-to-brisbane-mcgroder-locked-in-for-all-schools-championships/#:~:text=Draped in an Australian flag,Australian All Schools Athletics Championships..

He is somewhere in the 192-195cm range. So would be on the shorter end of a key position player.

My thoughts are that:

• He doesn't have exposed form atm to show he is a top tier prospect
• He doesn't have a set position
• If he does walk away from footy it would have to be until at least after an olympic cycle (2028) for him to switch back at which he would be only 20 at the time but would need atleast a full year to get back up to speed. At 21 would Sydney take a chance on him, maybe but its probably very slim. Thats why he needs to make a decision on AFL, because I think he can go AFL --> Athletics but don't think he can go Athletics --> AFL

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Harmit Singh has left his role with the Academy, posted on Linkedin a couple of weeks ago:

 

[Kiama Chris]

Harmit Singh has left his role with the Academy, posted on Linkedin a couple of weeks ago:

View attachment 2501996

Had to wonder how the roles (not necessarily the people) would mesh when Campbell was appointed. Looked to me as if there might be a fair bit of overlap.
Also wonder who will replace O'Riordan. I hadn't realised there were 9 hubs and wonder also how we manage those.
Edit: we have some pretty good people around the club who might fit into that role such as Lachie Hunter (doubling up with the AFLW) and Paddy McCartin. Others?

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Had to wonder how the roles (not necessarily the people) would mesh when Campbell was appointed. Looked to me as if there might be a fair bit of overlap.
Also wonder who will replace O'Riordan. I hadn't realised there were 9 hubs and wonder also how we manage those.
Edit: we have some pretty good people around the club who might fit into that role such as Lachie Hunter (doubling up with the AFLW) and Paddy McCartin. Others?

Club started advertising for Colin's replacement a few days ago

 

[Kiama Chris]

Club started advertising for Colin's replacement a few days ago

View attachment 2502162

Thanks. Quite a tricky position knowing how best to coach kids from 12-18. Not that easy to fill. Harry would be fantastic if he wasn't still playing.