The QBE Sydney Swans Academy under-16 side will face GWS on Sunday in the deciding game of the three-match series.

The GWS under-16 team took out the first match, but the Swans Academy evened the ledger in the most recent clash, running out 56-point winners.

Swans Academy coach Mark Drinkwater said his side has showed plenty of promise in the first two matches of the series.

“We’ve tried to expose our whole list (throughout the series), which was around 40-odd players,” he said.

“In game one, there were 30 players that were selected but unfortunately we didn’t get over the line in that one, we got beaten by around about 30 points.

“Game two we loaded up with a bit more of an experienced line up, with bigger, taller boys and that was two weeks ago down in Wollongong.

“We had a 56 point win, so that was an excellent result for us.

“Game three is this Sunday, which is a bit of a mini grand final, so we’ll see how that goes.”

The three-match series is a new initiative for both Academy sides, and one Drinkwater hopes to see develop in the future.

The coach said the opportunity for the Swans Academy boys to test their skills against another AFL representative side was great for the development of his squad.

“For us, we love it because we need to be challenging ourselves against other AFL clubs, and hopefully we can expand along the way,” he said.

“As far as the challenge against GWS - it’s great. It’s already generated a lot of rivalry certainly for the boys and they love it and as coaches we love it too.”

Sunday’s final match is not just about bragging rights for the Academy squads.

It will also be one of the last times state selectors can assess the players ahead of NSW/ACT Rams selection later this year.

“Over these three games, plus their training and their results from their running, the state selectors will pick a team out of the GWS group and our boys,” Drinkwater said.

“Hopefully we have a win this week so we get more numbers in.

“That’s really their goal - to get into the state side and prove themselves on an even higher level.”

The final QBE Sydney Swans Academy match against GWS will be held at Blacktown International Sportspark on Sunday June 3 at 11:00am.