Red and white wedding: SCG now house of Tyrell

Swans Academy recruit Tyrell Mayfield with Michael O'Loughlin. Image: Stephen Cooper.

He’s got the footwork of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and the hands of Benji Marshall. Now he’s going to be a Sydney Swan.

This article originally appeared on the Daily Telegraph website.

By Neil Cordy.

Having already plucked Kieren and Brandon Jack from rugby league ranks, the Swans have their sights set on brilliant young talent Tyrell Mayfield.

The 14-year-old was named in the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League team this year but has opted out of league to concentrate on AFL and his studies.

Mayfield has been part of the highly regarded Swans Academy for three years and is looking to follow in the footsteps of young stars Isaac Heeney and Callum Mills.

“It will be a real challenge but I’m up for it,” Mayfield told The Daily Telegraph.

“I wouldn’t say I’m giving Rugby League away, I’m keeping my options open and concentrating on AFL and we’ll see what the future brings.

“School is number one for my mum and the Swans Academy is going to support me with that.”

South Sydney, St George-Illawarra, Cronulla and the Roosters have all expressed an interest in the lightning quick teenager — who turns 15 next week — from Randwick Boys High School.

“It is a different type of competitiveness than rugby league,” Mayfield said.

“There are a lot of different skills in the AFL and I wasn’t much of a kicker playing league so I know I’m going have to improve my kicking.”

More than 80 per cent of the 500-plus boys at the academy play another organised sport apart from Aussie rules. Mayfield was identified in the Paul Kelly Cup at primary school level and was introduced to the Academy three years ago.

“I haven’t seen a lot of Tyrell but what I have I like,” Swans Academy Coach Michael O’Loughlin.

“Now it’s my job to get the skill component into him and educate him on all the knowledge he needs to play AFL. One of the strengths of the Academy is preparation and it might be a shock to the system for Tyrell but we’ve worked with a lot of great athletes over the years and we’re rapt we’ve got him.”

Academy boss Chris Smith says they encourage boys to play as many sports as possible in their early teens but identifies 15 is a critical point in young athletes sporting and academic development.

“Up until 15 we’re quite flexible and we want them to balance and enjoy as many sports as possible,” Smith said.

“We don’t necessarily want them to specialise at that age but we see it as an advantage when they get to 16, 17 or 18. When boys are trying to juggle sports in their later teens their studies start to struggle and so does their sport. The pressure gets too much for them. The AFL program Tyrell does won’t hinder his Rugby League development but it will ensure his physical load is managed in a controlled environment and he can focus on his studies.

“Kids who are doing well in their studies also tend to do well in their sport.”