Sam Wicks will become Sydney’s fifth debutant for season 2020 when he runs out for the Swans against Collingwood at the Gabba on Thursday night.
The QBE Sydney Swans Academy product joined the club as a Category B Rookie in November 2018 and was elevated to Sydney’s senior list last month, paving the way for his debut.
The 20-year-old said he cannot wait to run out with the team for the first time.
“I am super excited for the opportunity and just can’t wait to get out there with the boys,” Wicks said.
“The reason I am in the team is to bring my pressure and tackling, so I will be doing my best to bring that as much as I can.”
Wicks was introduced to AFL at a young age, with his parents both coming from Adelaide and big Adelaide Crows supporters.
He played his junior footy in the northern beaches with Manly before joining the QBE Sydney Swans Academy in 2010.
“The Academy was massive for my development and it was unreal growing up in a system like that,” Wicks said.
“In Sydney footy isn’t as big as other states, so to have that pathway and the training facilities was huge for me.”
Wicks joins Dylan Stephens, Chad Warner, Matt Ling and Elijah Taylor to have made their debut this season.
His inclusion is one of four changes to the team to take on the Magpies in Round 10, with Stephens, Jackson Thurlow and Lewis Melican also coming into the side.
Nick Blakey, Ryan Clarke, Sam Gray and Lewis Taylor have been omitted.
