The QBE Sydney Swans Academy under-16 squad have shown they have what it takes to match it with the state’s best young footballers.

The under-16 squad this weekend took out the final and deciding match of the Academy Series against the GWS Academy squad.

After an initial defeat by GWS in game one of the series, the Swans Academy squad went on to win the last two matches by a combined total of 90 points.

While the results of the Academy Series were an exciting achievement for the group, Swans Academy Talent ID and Operations Manager Chris Smith said the most pleasing part was that the Swans’ Academy athletes could now compete with their southern NSW counterparts.

“Traditionally, southern NSW, including Wagga, Albury, Canberra and Broken Hill, have provided the bulk of AFL talent in NSW,” he said.

“It’s just so encouraging to see player from our zone - Sydney, the Central Coast, Coffs Harbour and the Illawarra able to compete with those traditional AFL zones.”

Not only did the Swans’ squad take out the Academy series, a number of Swans Academy players also earned a place in the under-16 NSW Rams state squad.

For the first time, the NSW under-16 Rams’ squad consisted of a majority of players from the Swans Academy zone. 14 players were selected in the squad of 25.

Smith said he believed it was the direction the Academy took at the end of the 2011 season which set the Swans Academy on the right track.

“At the completion of the 24-week training programme last year, our under-15 age group consisted of 84 players from within our zone,” he said.

“We implemented a benchmark off-season programme to assess and evaluate each boy’s running capabilities, skill level and their degree of focus and commitment towards achieving their football ambitions.

“By the start of the season, we were confident we had reduced the group to a core squad of players with the necessary characteristics to be future AFL prospects.”

The next step was to introduce the squad to a game style and understanding that was a significant shift from what the players were accustomed to.

“Paul Roos, Mark Drinkwater and other senior Academy coaches worked regularly with the players and there were signs that the group from a very early stage were very willing to learn and apply themselves,” Smith said.

Smith said this season’s results have given him confidence that the Academy players are on the right track to become top level footballers.

“While this year’s series indicated that we are on the right track, it is important that we continue to implement strategies that not only ensure that boys have the necessary physical and mental attributes that are required, but that the Academy also has an effective game style which can be easily understood and adopted by our playing group.”

Congratulations to the QBE Sydney Swans Academy squad members who earned state selection in the under-16 NSW/ACT Rams squad:

Joshua Barty, Joel Bottin-Noonan, Abe Davis, Michael Dickson, Harry Dobson, Jordan Foote, Nicholas Foster, Harrison Green, Isaac Heeney, Tyler Roos, Vahid Roser, Luke Trowell, Bradley Watson, Oliver Wetzlar