SYDNEY Swans star Jarrad McVeigh dropped by recently to chat with us about the exciting new QBE Sydney Swans Academy. He shared his thoughts on what the Academy means to him as a NSW born and bred player, as well as offering insights into the potential impact the Academy is likely to have on the Club, and what fans and members can do to ensure its success.

How important is the QBE Sydney Swans Academy in the future of Australian football in NSW?
I think it’ll be massive for the Club and a lot of players in NSW. It will give the Swans a huge opportunity to use the NSW talent available, and those kids will then be getting more exposure and a golden opportunity to play AFL for the Sydney Swans.

What direct impact do you see on the young people who are involved in the Academy?
The young players who come in will be given the best opportunity to succeed in the AFL. They'll be given access to the best facilities, coaching and training on offer and that’s huge for a kid looking to further their footy career.

What impact do you think the participants will have on their local clubs when they return?
I think they’ll be able to help their team-mates back at their clubs by passing on what they’ve learnt at the Academy. They’ll also be talking with their mates at school and then hopefully getting them involved in AFL and the Swans as well, which is also good for the Club in the long term. I think it’ll have a huge impact.

The Raffle is raising funds for the Academy, why is the support of the members and fans of the Sydney Swans so important to establishing the Academy?
Well, you don’t have a footy club without supporters and we couldn’t do it without them. So with the support of our members and fans I think it can go a really long way, and it’ll be the same as the success of the Club in that it’ll require a great deal of member support to ensure its success in to the future.

What role can fans of the Sydney Swans play in helping to solidify the future of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy and the future of NSW Australian Football talent?
One thing they can do is jump online and buy some raffle tickets, as every ticket purchased helps. Fans can also get in touch with us if they want to sell tickets on behalf of their own footy club, because we will give back a share of the profits, which is a great deal for everyone really.

What impact can the QBE Sydney Swans Academy have on the future of the Sydney Swans?
Hopefully at the end of the day we can get a lot of NSW kids coming through and playing footy for the Swans. At the Academy, they’ll get to meet the Swans players and coaches and they’ll be learning the playing style of the Swans, so it’ll potentially be really big.

Were there any specific skill development opportunities for you as a young player in NSW?
Well, I had the TAC Cup team at Under 18’s. There were a few programs in Sydney that allowed you to be seen by scouts and that provided some good coaching, but the Academy now gives the kids AFL level coaching and more opportunities to succeed.

How do you think the Academy would have helped you if it was around when you were a developing player?
I think it would’ve had a huge impact, not just with my skills but with my understanding of the strategies involved in playing football. The benefits of playing and training with players who are at the same high standard, that alone makes a difference. The Academy players will learn from the best people in the best environment, and they’ll also learn the ins and outs of AFL football, which increases their opportunities to play football at an AFL level.

Was there one thing in your early career that made a difference to how you pursued your career?
Early in my career I was motivated by my family, especially following in my brother’s footsteps and of course my father’s footsteps, who played VFL footy.

What advice would you give to any of the young blokes who are having a go at the Academy?
Enjoy your time at the Academy as much as you can and make the most of it, but make sure you still have fun. At the end of the day, you never know what might happen if you follow a career path in AFL football.


You can play a part in establishing the QBE Sydney Swans Academy and ensure the Swans are able to fulfil a long-held dream of controlling the skills and personal development of NSW footballers from as young as 9 years of age. The long term benefit of the Academy is of course to shape them into future Swans players and to increase the opportunities for these NSW players to play at an elite level.

Your small investment in a raffle ticket is an essential part of a much larger result. To play your critical part in this team effort, head to the QBE Sydney Swans Academy Raffle page and purchase your tickets today.