Academy games 2026.

[Nepo baby]

Hey guys,
Nepo Baby here, new to the forum, love what you guys have got going here focusing on the future of the swans, for what is a really talented year.

I would like to mention two prolific players both with rugby backgrounds. Oscar Clifton and Patrick Smith. As you noted in your article, Smith and Clifton have strong history in rugby union - both playing for AAGPS representative teams (the strongest in Australia) and have experience in the Waratahs background.

Quite impressively, I think, they are the two standout players for what is a strong side. Dejavoodoo, I would love to know your thoughts on these two prospects.

Cheers, yours truly,
Nepo Baby

[dejavoodoo44]

Hey guys,
Nepo Baby here, new to the forum, love what you guys have got going here focusing on the future of the swans, for what is a really talented year.

I would like to mention two prolific players both with rugby backgrounds. Oscar Clifton and Patrick Smith. As you noted in your article, Smith and Clifton have strong history in rugby union - both playing for AAGPS representative teams (the strongest in Australia) and have experience in the Waratahs background.

Quite impressively, I think, they are the two standout players for what is a strong side. Dejavoodoo, I would love to know your thoughts on these two prospects.

Cheers, yours truly,
Nepo Baby

Welcome.

Thanks for confirming that they have a union background.

In regards to my impressions of the two. I thought Clifton was a reasonable chance of getting a rookie spot last season, as he seems to have a bit more athleticism than most players his size and he can take a good grab. Slightly undersized for a ruck, but with the new rules, he might be able to use his leap to advantage? Could be hard to get drafted now that he's overage, but in an early game this season, I thought he was BOG, so a couple more of those and he could still be in with a chance. And I did like the way that came back in the fourth quarter today, after seeming to have an almost full body cramp in the third.

I haven't seen that much of Smith, but he can win a contested ball and can obviously tackle. If he's a recent convert, then I can see him developing into a decent big bodied midfielder.

[Velour&Ruffles]

Hey guys,
Nepo Baby here, new to the forum, love what you guys have got going here focusing on the future of the swans, for what is a really talented year.

I would like to mention two prolific players both with rugby backgrounds. Oscar Clifton and Patrick Smith. As you noted in your article, Smith and Clifton have strong history in rugby union - both playing for AAGPS representative teams (the strongest in Australia) and have experience in the Waratahs background.

Quite impressively, I think, they are the two standout players for what is a strong side. Dejavoodoo, I would love to know your thoughts on these two prospects.

Cheers, yours truly,
Nepo Baby

Welcome Nepo

[dejavoodoo44]

The Rookie Me scouting notes for the game.

Scouting Notes: Suns on the board as Swans stay flawless - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central https://share.google/IcxR2qjVnYiAqIRzN

[KSAS]

Thanks Deja. Sounds exciting having promising twins, one of them a key defender along with mids/forwards coming through the ranks.

[dejavoodoo44]

The team for the game against Tasmania, which takes place at Blacktown at 11am today.

Sydney Swans Academy - Boys v Tasmania Devils Talent League Boys, 2026, R6 - Game Centre | PlayHQ https://share.google/JIYAYr4Zdy19jazVb

[dejavoodoo44]

Handy 32-16 lead at quarter time. The only two goalkickers that I know for sure are Hardy and Luke. Hardy took a strong pack mark and converted on the siren, not long after he tapped it perfectly to Luke who was on the move at a ruck contest and who then snapped truly. Our first goal was possibly Mok, after some nice rebound work from Redfern, while one of the other goals, was the result of a downfield free, after Medved took a few bounces and was hit after he disposed of it.

[dejavoodoo44]

Increased our lead to 50-21. Not sure who got our first goal, but it might of been Epis crumbing on the goal line. Our second was definitely to Meaney, who almost had his head ripped off at a ruck contest, after another nice bit of tap work by Hardy.

Definitely a difference in styles between the teams. Tasmania are trying to play a more deliberate kick and mark, while we're playing run and gun.

[dejavoodoo44]

Further increased our lead to 78-34. Still having trouble identifying the goal kickers. Possibly because the camera operator is not focusing on who's being congratulated after the goal. Though I can't blame them for not knowing who kicked the first, as I was still having lunch at the time.

Second one probably went to Price, with a nice snap under pressure from about 35m. Next was Delaney-Fielding, who roved smartly for his size. The final one was probably Griffiths who marked on the goal line, although it could've been Pignatelli?

Meaney seemed to get a lot of ball in that quarter.

[dejavoodoo44]

Very good 117-46 win. For most of the day we were better at pressuring the ball carrier, better at scrapping for the loose ball and more intent on launching quick attacks. I'd actually be very disappointed if I were a Tasmanian. In that, with Tasmania soon to join the AFL, you'd think that they'd have a thriving academy system, but instead, they're being thrashed by a side with access to half of NSW.

Anyway, I was actually able to identify all the goal kickers in the final term. There were two to Pignatelli, who took a couple of strong marks, after being spotted by Luke and Meyrick respectively. There were also a couple to Smith. His first was the result of some more good ruck work from Hardy, his second the result of a not so good kick by a Tasmanian defender. The was also a very nice, round the body snap by Meyrick, who roved a contest about 35m out. Luke also kicked one, after Meaney broke from a centre bounce and hit him on the lead.

Since there's too many goals that I'm not sure of, I won’t attempt to do a goal kickers list. Instead I'll just go through the lines.

I thought Beavis was probably our best defender today. Won almost all his contests and used the ball pretty well. Will Jenkin was his usual industrious self, getting involved in plenty of rebound chains. Medved was entertaining on the rebound. He does like to go on long, multi-bounce runs. Underager Redfern also showed some nice rebound skills as a small defender.

Price and Meaney were probably the best of the midfielders. Price got plenty of possessions running between the arcs and generally looks composed in traffic. While Meaney was very busy around the contests. Meyrick and Smith were also good. Clifton had a decent game in the ruck and took a few contested marks around the ground. On the outside, Chambers, Macri, and especially Mok, all showed some nice skills.

After being quiet last game, Luke was very good today. He kicked a couple of goals, was creative with his ball use and his run down pressure was very good. I think might have actually stuck about five tackles in the first quarter. Guy Jenkin was also busy in the forward half. Delaney-Fielding showed some nice skills for a tall, while the more mature talls, Pignatelli and Griffiths, presented strongly and took some nice marks. Hardy also presented well and set up a few goals with some taps that went straight to the intended target. We might have to part with a high pick for him in 2027?

Next week we face Victorian opposition for the first time, so hopefully the winning streak continues.