Swans secure Academy trio
The Sydney Swans have committed to selecting Isaac Heeney, Jack Hiscox and Abaina Davis in next month's AFL Draft.
At next month’s draft, the Swans will use pick 17 to secure midfielder Isaac Heeney, selection 36 on speedster Jack Hiscox and pick 73 on key position prospect Abaina Davis.
Swans chief executive officer Andrew Ireland said it is a great achievement to have three players drafted from the QBE Swans Academy.
“To select three players from the QBE Swans Academy is one of the most exciting developments for our club and for football in NSW,” Ireland said.
“In Isaac, Jack and Abaina, we have three vastly different players who have been part of the Academy program over the last four years and will all be great additions to our team.
“Through the work of the entire Academy team including head coach Michael O’Loughlin and operations manager Chris Smith we’re starting to see some terrific results from the Academy.
“This has all been made possible through the generosity and support of QBE and the Swans Foundation.
“This really is a significant achievement to draft three players from our Academy onto our primary list and it’s a real sign of the impact the Academy is having on the development of the game in NSW and the opportunities now available for local kids to be drafted.
“We will now have at least 13 players from NSW on our list next season, led by co-captains Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack and a NSW-born coach in John Longmire, which is really exciting.
“Hopefully in the coming years, we will continue to see more NSW players follow the lead of Isaac, Jack and Abaina and join the club from the Academy.”
Swans coach John Longmire said he is looking forward to officially welcoming the trio to the club.
“It’s really exciting to have secured three talented players in Isaac, Jack and Abaina,” Longmire said.
“Isaac is a hard at it midfielder who can basically play anywhere on the ground, he can take a good overhead mark and he’s a real competitor.
“Jack is an elite runner, his ability to run up and down the ground is of a really high level. His improvement over the last 12 months has been really impressive and we’re confident he’ll have a bright future at the Swans.
“Abaina is a key position player who can play at either end of the ground, his versatility and football instincts will be valuable to the team.”
Heeney grew up in Cardiff, just south of Newcastle, and played for the Cardiff Hawks Juniors before joining the Academy in 2011.
Growing up he played soccer and rugby before focusing purely on AFL. Heeney has developed into a versatile midfielder who is extremely competitive and courageous. He was awarded the Division 2 MVP award at the 2014 National AFL Championships.
Hiscox joined the Academy in a full time capacity in 2013. Prior to that, he balanced his athletics with his AFL commitments. He grew up in Newtown in Sydney and played for the Glebe Greyhound Juniors.
Hiscox is an exceptional endurance athlete who has a unique blend of elite endurance and speed and was the Australia 800m champion.
He is a hard running, small forward/midfielder who currently holds the Sydney Swans Academy 3km cross country record of 9.06 minutes. He also finished equal first in the beep test at the recent AFL Combine finishing with a score of 16.1.
Davis, like Heeney joined the Academy in 2011. He grew up in Maroubra in Sydney and played for the Maroubra Saints Juniors.
Davis is a versatile key position player who excels both forward and back and is also a dedicated surf life saver. He played basketball at a high level throughout his youth.
AFL NSW/ACT General Manager Craig Bolton said it was a great outcome for the development of the game in NSW.
"Seeing five of our top players drafted to the Swans and Giants today is a tremendous result, not just for the individuals but for the academies and our state talent programs," Bolton said.
"I have every confidence that these players will follow in the footsteps of some of the great local products that are playing in the AFL now, and we are so proud to see them drafted.
"Congratulations to all of the boys, and to both of the clubs. I look forward to seeing many more young players reaching these levels of success over the next few years."