The Sydney Swans are pleased to announce Kyle Galloway and Sam Murray have joined the club as Category B Rookies.

Standing 209cm and weighing 105kg, Galloway is a developing ruck prospect who hails from Deniliquin in southern NSW.

The 19-year-old is relatively new to AFL having only picked up the game as a late teen. He played up forward and in the ruck for the Shepparton Bears in the Goulburn Valley Football League this year after commencing the year with the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup.

Galloway also represented the NSW/ACT RAMS, coached by former Swan Tadhg Kennelly, as an over-age player in the Under-18 Championships.

Like Galloway, Murray grew up in southern NSW in the small town of Henty.

The 18-year-old is a quick left-footed half-forward/wingman who finished third in the Ovens and Murray League’s Morris Medal this year playing for the Wodonga Raiders. Murray’s best game was against Corowa-Rutherglen when he kicked five goals in a half. He also represented the Ovens and Murray under-19 squad in the VCFL Country Championships this season.

Recruiting and List Strategy Manager Kinnear Beatson said the Swans are pleased to welcome the pair to the club.

“Kyle is quite a unique player having not played too many games of AFL but he displays all of the attributes we’re looking for in a ruckman – he’s tall, a good size with a great reach and he’s deceptively agile,” Beatson said.

“It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find players who are capable of playing AFL footy in the ruck but with his height and size we think Kyle is certainly worth a punt.

“Kyle’s a raw talent but we certainly like what we saw of him while he was playing for the RAMS and the Bushrangers this year and we think he’ll be a great addition to the team alongside our developing talls.

“We’re also pleased to bring Sam onto our list as we know he attracted a lot of attention in the back half of the season.

“Sam’s a 189cm left-footer who can play as a half-forward or on the wing – he’s got great speed and has a real knack for kicking goals.

“Sam showed great character this year after being overlooked for the Murray Bushrangers squad. He persevered, worked on the areas he needed to and was rewarded with a breakout season playing for the Wodonga Raiders and now has an opportunity on our rookie list.”

As a result of no pre-season draft, Galloway and Murray will join the Swans today immediately after the rookie draft.