The Sydney Swans reserves have a bye this week and can’t wait for their next game, which sees them travelling to Newcastle to take on the Ainslie Football Club on Saturday May 28.

The match, which is part of the North East Australian Football League competition, will begin at 12.30pm on the picturesque Newcastle No 1 Sportsground and pit the first-placed Swans against second-placed Ainslie.

It will be the first ever NEAFL match in the region, and entry is free. It is certain to be a high standard game, with the Swans featuring a number of players with senior AFL experience, and Ainslie being the 2010 premiers in the ACT AFL competition.

The match will further strengthen the Swans ties with the Newcastle region, which have been boosted by the recent establishment of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy in the Hunter.

In a fillip for the Academy and local Australian football, four boys from the three northern QBE Sydney Swans Academy centres will play for the Swans reserves in Newcastle.

The four boys are Mitch Crawford and Jack Pratt from Newcastle, who are in the QBE Sydney Swans Hunter Academy, Jonathan Gourlay who is in the QBE Sydney Swans Central Coast Academy and Brendan Nelson from the QBE Sydney Swans Academy in Coffs Harbour.

Pratt plays senior football for Cardiff FC in the Black Diamond League and has represented the North Coast region, and NSW. Crawford has also represented the North Coast region since 2007.

Norton is a Coffs Harbour local who was in the NSW Under 16 squad last year, while Gourlay is from Terrigal and now plays senior football for Pennant Hills FC.

The head coach of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy, Paul Roos, said it would be a great opportunity for the four Academy players to show their wares in front of local AFL football fans.

“All the boys have been training hard as part of their program with the Academy and we’re excited to be able to give them this chance to play with the Swans reserves and put their talent on display,’’ Roos said.

“We hope it will encourage more young athletes to try our game and possibly get the chance to become part of our innovative Academy program, where our aim is to develop youngsters into future Swans senior players.’’

Senior Swans coaches and fitness staff will also take part in a Football Forum, to be moderated by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, John Tate, the evening before the NEAFL game.

The Forum, to be held in the Club Rooms of the Newcastle No 1 Sportsground at 6.30pm on Friday May 27, will provide an insight into football operations at the Sydney Swans.

The panel at the Forum will include Henry Playfair, who is the Sydney Swans reserves coach and a former Geelong and Swans player; Jared Crouch, who is a 2005 Swans premiership player and current Swans development & Academy coach; Nick Davis, who is also a 2005 premiership player and current Academy coach; and Matt Pine, conditioning coach at the Swans. 2010 Ainslie Premiership coach Chris Rourke will also be part of the Forum panel.