Junior Jack holding firm

By James Dampney

Some of the young brigade filling in at the Sydney Swans know they might just be biding their time before some premiership stars return.

Yet they are also confident that, if given the chance, they can have an impact as the team works towards defending its flag

Brandon Jack, Jed Lamb, Dane Rampe, Tom Mitchell and Xavier Richards have all made their AFL debuts this season, moves which have partly been facilitated by injuries to key personnel.

Adam Goodes (knee), Lewis Jetta (shin), Sam Reid (quad) and Lewis Roberts-Thomson (knee) are all set to return in the coming weeks, which could spell trouble for some of the youngsters’ hopes of playing finals football.

But Jack, brother of Swans co-captain Kieren, isn’t letting the situation worry him.

“Obviously we’ve got a lot of senior premiership players to get back into the team and we’re aware of that as young players,” he told AFL.com.au.

“But it’s not going to change how we’re going about our footy.

“We’re just playing our role for the team each week and when those guys come back in, if they come back in, it’ll only help the team.”

Jack feels some of the young players can retain their places, even if all the stars return.

“Definitely,” he said. “As long as we’re doing our role for the team and the team is doing well, there’s no reason why we can’t keep the young guys in.”

Considering he only picked up a Sherrin for the first time five years ago, Jack has enjoyed an incredible rise through the ranks.

The success his older brother was having with the Swans and a desire to try a different sport were big influences on his decision, although he initially tried to hide his interest from his father.

Garry Jack was a rugby league international and one of the best fullbacks of his generation.

“The first few times I kicked a Sherrin I was out the front and would make sure dad wasn’t home,” Jack recalled.

“I’d take a league ball and an AFL ball out the front and I think I told him I was just seeing which one went further.

“Then eventually it started progressing to going down to the park and kicking the Sherrin.

“I wasn’t too flash to start with, but I kept plugging away at it.”

Having progressed from the QBE Sydney Swans Academy to the rookie list, the younger Jack admits he was star struck by some of the club’s big names and “didn’t say too much the first few weeks”.

His goal for the year was to make it onto the senior list and potentially play one game.

The 19-year-old has comfortably surpassed those goals, playing eight matches to date.

The highlight so far was his four goals from 10 possessions against Melbourne back in round 15 in just his third game.

With Jetta sidelined and Gary Rohan recovering from his broken leg, Jack has provided some of the outside run and threat around goal that was missing.

In just 12 months, Jack has gone from making his first ever trip to the MCG to watch his brother win a premiership to potentially playing in a final himself.

But he isn’t thinking about that just yet.

“I wouldn’t have expected this at this point last year,” he said.

“I’m really happy to be a part of it at the moment, but I try not to think too far ahead.