Several promising Illawarra juniors are taking their first big step towards possibly playing AFL for the Sydney Swans after being selected in their first Swans Academy squad.
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Talented Corrimal under 12s Jeremy Woodford and Thirroul under 12s Benjamin Treffone have been named in the Swans Academy squad to train under head coach and former premiership star Michael O'Loughlin.
Four other promising players Omar Matar (under 11s) Max Riolo (under 12s) and under 13s pair Ollie Burnett and Noah Wood have also attracted attention from the academy this year.
All junior Swans Academy players are eligible for the draft at 18 years of age and can be recruited by the Swans as a priority draft selection or be in the best position to forge an AFL career at another club.
Woodford and Treffone now have the opportunity to follow the path of Swans co-captains Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh, who grew up playing footy in NSW.
O'Loughlin said it was a great achievement to make an academy squad.
"It's fantastic for kids growing up in NSW to now have a clear pathway from junior footy, to the Swans Academy and right through to the elite level," Swans 2005 premiership player O'Loughlin said.
"We're starting to see some talented players from NSW get drafted by the Swans and other AFL clubs which is really exciting, and there'll no doubt be plenty more players from NSW in red and white in the future."