Future stars on show at QBE Swans Academy

Future Sydney Swans players will be on display for the next three consecutive weekends when the QBE Swans Academy conducts trial games for the under 13 and under 14 age groups.

It will be the perfect opportunity for players to impress with the first trial game commencing this Saturday, September 4 and the third game concluding on September 18.

For the trials there will be two squads, consisting of players selected from their performance at the club level, the Academy training program and the AFL (NSW/ACT) Talented Player Program.

Each squad will be made up of boys from the Hunter, Central Coast, North/Northwest Sydney, South Sydney, Illawarra and Sydney Harbour regions.

The under 13s game commences at 9.00am at Lakeside Oval (opposite the Sydney Cricket Ground) while the under 14s game commences at 10.30am, also at Lakeside Oval.

Sydney Swans’ Talent Identification Coordinator Chris Smith said the aim of the trails is to not only identify the best up and coming players but to create a club-like atmosphere.

“It is hoped we can identify a number of players that have the right attributes to join the 2011 Academy list,” Smith said.

“We will try and create an environment which is similar to that of the Sydney Swans to give players an insight into the life of an AFL player.

“For all the players taking part in the trials we wish you the very best of luck.”