When young gun Jake Brown graduated from the QBE Sydney Swans Academy late last year, the boy from Coffs Harbour joined Josh Kennedy, Lance Franklin and a string of other superstars on the training deck.
The athletic 20-year-old midfielder became a listed Swans player when he signed with Sydney at the rookie draft last November.
But while Brown has soaked up every moment alongside the Kennedy-led Swans in his first year at the Club, he says it was those on the verge of AFL selection who gave him a boost in the NEAFL last Saturday.
Sydney fell to the Gold Coast Suns in a 24-point defeat at the SCG but veteran defender Heath Grundy and rising midfielder Jordan Dawson did enough to earn AFL recalls.
The star duo was on Thursday night named for Sydney’s crunch clash with Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
Grundy raked in 25 touches and pulled the strings in defence in the Round 16 NEAFL match with the Suns, while a glittering Dawson performance stole the show in the AFL curtain-raiser.
The 21-year-old collected 29 possessions, six clearances, five inside 50s, nine marks and three goals to earn six NEAFL MVP votes in the 11.10 (76) to 8.5 (53) loss.
But the most notable statistic of the lot was Dawson’s 24 tackles.
It set a new NEAFL benchmark and broke a record which had stood since 2013, with Sydney Hills Eagles star Tim Garlick laying 23 tackles against Sydney University.
“It definitely gives us younger boys a big kick when the more experienced players are putting their best foot forward,” Brown told SwansTV.
“Especially when you see Jordan Dawson out there making 24 tackles to set a new NEAFL record. It really sparks the side and gets everyone going.”
Young midfield gun Jordan Foote (27 disposals, 11 tackles) produced an impressive game of his own.
Utility Dean Towers followed suit in a return of 26 touches and a goal to put his name before selectors, while backman Alex Johnson tallied 22 possessions and gave enormous voice to the young side.
Johnson and Dawson linked beautifully for the opening goal of the game, with Johnson peeling off a dead-eye kick up the right wing to find the recalled star on the lead inside 50.
Dawson banged home the ensuing set shot and snagged another moments later to help the Swans to a slim quarter-time lead.
But Gold Coast would flex its muscle to collect the four points and return to the top six, while Sydney dropped from first on the ladder to second.
Brown found the Sherrin 17 times and laid eight tackles and says he’s lapping up his first year as a listed Swan.
“I’m loving my first year at the Club,” Brown said.
“It’s been everything I’ve expected and more. It’s definitely a step up but I’m taking it all in my stride and taking every week as it comes.”
The Swans are now set for a bye and will next week host the Brisbane Lions at the SCG on Saturday afternoon, with the match due to roll out the red carpet for Sydney’s massive duel with Collingwood.
