Thursday nights are always hotly contested at the SCG as players push themselves forward for selection in the Swans senior team. ? ?

Last Thursday however, it was spots in the 2016 Swans line-up that were up for grabs as 60 young footballers trained as part of the Swans Academy. ? ?

More than 160 promising under-11 talents from across New South Wales were put through their paces at a series of trials in the April school holidays before being selected for a four week training opportunity with the Swans Academy.? ?

An eager onlooker at Thursday nights session was Sam Sainju, father of 11-year-old Vijaya Sainju. ?

“He started with the Academy last week and the training they did was fantastic. All the different forms of training and activities really helps build their skills,” he said.?

“This early training will boost Vijaya’s skills so he is then able go on and help other teammates at his club or at school which is very important.” ?

Vijaya is a Swan through and through, playing with his local club the Newtown Swans, while passionately supporting the Sydney Swans each week. ?

“Whenever the games are on television Vijaya and his brother will not miss a second of the action. When I ask them if they want their dinner, they say they don’t have time for dinner because they need to watch the Swans!” Sam said.? ?

Another keen observer was Keryn Howitt whose turn it was to carpool her son Will, 10 and his friend Will, the two hours from Wollongong’s south west for this week's training session. ?

“Will is loving it. The boys came home completely exhausted last week but they are just so excited about training with the Swans Academy,” Keryn said. ?

“The whole thing has been a really positive experience and it’s great to come down tonight and see the boys getting coached by the likes of Stuart Maxfield, Daniel McPherson and Stuart Dew.”? ?

Sydney Swans Talent Identification Manager Chris Smith said the under-11 group contained many bright young talents who could one day pull on the Swans guernsey. ?

“During the four weeks with the Sydney Swans Academy we will be looking for boys who best display qualities of athleticism, hand-eye coordination, balance and importantly those who are passionate, committed and focused on their sport.” ?

“The next major step for this group of boys is selection in the under-13 advanced Academy squad, the first of which commences in 2011 and will involve a 40-week development program at the SCG,” Smith said. ? ?

Both Vijaya Sainju, Will Howitt and their parents hope that training with the Swans Academy is just the first step in a long career with the Sydney Swans. Perhaps both names will be read out in the Swans senior team on a cold Thursday night at the SCG come 2016. ?