Imagine this. You’re a second year uni student on your summer break. You spend half the day training flat out alongside Josh Kennedy, Lance Franklin and the entire Sydney Swans senior squad.
You then spend the other half of the day trying to stay awake while you do an afternoon shift packing shelves and lugging pallets at the local supermarket.
For the past few months during the long, hot summer that has been the life of Joey Reinhard, a member of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy’s top-age Under 19 squad.
Reinhard,19, and eight other players in the Academy’s NDS program (North East Australian Football League Development Squad), have completed the gruelling pre-season training with the Swans as part of an integration plan created by Swans Academy general manager, Chris Smith, several years ago.
During December and January they trained up to four days a week and did their best to keep pace with some of the best footballers in the country. Besides Reinhard, the boys are: Sam Wicks, Josh Stern, Jeremy Shumack, Dom Soffe, Bailey Stewart, Michael Carroll, Mitch Rogers and Luke Skrivanic.
It was hard work, but Reinhard fully appreciates how lucky he is. “It was a bit intimidating at the start, not knowing the senior guys, but they’ve been so welcoming,’’ Reinhard says. “It was a pretty big step up, especially at first, but the purpose of the program is to help us improve.
“From a personal standpoint the experience of doing an AFL pre-season, understanding the high standards and discipline you need, is something that will stay with us throughout our careers wherever we end up,’’ says Reinhard, who is studying economics at the University of Sydney.
Now that the AFL season is imminent, the full NDS group of 11 boys, which also includes Dylan Smith and Nick Eynaud, are training with the seniors once a week throughout the year, with the rest of their training at the Academy or their local senior club.
The players have all come through the Swans Academy’s junior program and are considered promising prospects even though they weren’t picked up in last year’s national AFL draft.
The NDS program gives the boys the chance to stay in the frame, which clearly benefits them and the Swans. Last year Jake Brown, who was a member of the Academy’s NDS in 2017, was selected by the Swans in the rookie draft and is now on the senior list.
Other graduates from last year’s NDS have been recruited to play senior football in the SANFL in Adelaide, and for NEAFL clubs in Canberra, at Sydney Uni, and in Queensland.
Reinhard grew up playing football for the East Sydney Bulldogs. This year he and the other NDS players are aiming to play as many games as possible as “top-up players’’ for the Swans reserves side in the NEAFL competition.
Reinhard says training with the Swans has helped him understand and absorb strategies and game plans he’ll need to know if he plays for the reserves.
The head coach of the QBE Swans Academy, 2005 premiership player, Jared Crouch, has seen significant benefits for the NDS players who have trained with the seniors.
“They’ve all shown real improvement, they all look comfortable,’’ said Crouch, who oversees all their training sessions.
“In a lot of ways it’s about building relationships with the Swans reserves players and some seniors players that will enable them to play good football when they get an opportunity in the twos.’’
While the NDS boys are keen to impress, Crouch says they are asked not to go too hard when training with the seniors.
“We do have a rule that you never injure anyone who earns more money than you,’’ Crouch jokes. “They have to be careful not to do anything silly when they’re charging around at training.’’
Crouch believes the benefits will flow into the season. “One of the most important things we talk about at the Academy is taking the first option, don’t mess around with the ball,’’ he says.
“When you’re just training with your peers, you might be better than a lot of them and you can try to do too much. But when you’re training with Buddy Franklin and Josh Kennedy, you get the ball and just turn and give straight away. You do become a better player when you take first option.’’
Crouch says the overall aim is to help as many young players as possible make it to senior lists, but there are of course no guarantees.
“Jake Brown is a great example. He was in the NDS program last year and he is now on the Swans senior list.
“Hopefully we get another one or two who get on to a senior list but if they don’t, I have no doubt they will look back on it and realise how great an opportunity it was and how much fun they had,’’ Crouch says.
“There are no guarantees other than they get to train alongside some of the best footballers in the land and learn off them. At the end of the day you have to make the most of it because it is a pretty cut-throat business.’’
QBE Sydney Swans Academy general manager, Chris Smith, has known most of the 11 players in the 2018 NDS program since they started in the Academy when still in primary school.
Here he gives an insight into each player.
SAM WICKS
A very promising prospect. Sam is very disciplined and resilient.
He has good speed and endurance and is an elite decision-maker, with really clean skills by hand and foot.
He can play as a small forward, or at half-back, or on the wing.
Sam is from the Manly Bombers club and has been in the Academy for seven years.
JOSH STERN
A quietly determined young player, who is very professional and no-fuss.
On the field he is balanced, clever in his ball use and executes well. He had promising performances at the national U18 carnival last year and plays as a small forward or small defender.
Josh plays for Pennant Hills in the Sydney AFL competition and was part of the team that won the Premier Division premiership in 2017.
JEREMY SHUMACK
Honest and highly disciplined. He has a great attitude and strong leadership qualities. A powerful athlete with elite endurance as well as pace.
He’s a versatile prospect, improving rapidly, and has shown promise as a medium-small forward.
Jeremy is from the North Shore Bombers Football Club and has been in the Academy for seven years.
DOMINIC SOFFE
Focused, hard-working and hungry to seize every opportunity presented to him. He’s a late developer but his form over this summer pre-season has created excitement. Played very well in the Swans reserves practice match against GWS in early March.
He’s extremely clever, strong overhead and with a great goal sense. Has elite endurance and AFL-standard running ability. He plays as a small forward, or an outside wingman or half-forward.
Dom is from the St George Dragons Football Club in Sydney.
BAILEY STEWART
Determined, single-minded and sets very high standards for himself.
Has consistently won the Academy’s benchmark running trials. He’s tough, disciplined and has great endurance.
Plays as a midfielder or medium-size defender; played a key role for the Academy at last year’s U18 national carnival.
Bailey was a Pennant Hills junior and now plays at the East Coast Eagles in the Sydney AFL.
JOEY REINHARD
Intelligent, charismatic and a strong personality. He has started 2018 very well. He’s impressed the coaches and shown real promise while training with the seniors during the pre-season. Adapted very well to the lift in tempo.
He plays the game on his terms and knows how to get into good positions, reading the play well both as a defender and forward. He’s definitely one to watch.
Joey played his junior footy with the East Sydney Bulldogs and plays for UNSW-Eastern Suburbs in the Sydney AFL.
MICHAEL CARROLL
Laconic, unassuming and modest off the field, but very competitive come game day. He’s a good size at 193cms, and versatile. He’s been played in attack and defence, but there’s lots of upside with him and we’re hopeful he’ll develop into a very good key defender.
He played really well for the Allies in last year’s division one National AFL U18 Championships.
Michael is from the Pennant Hills Football Club.
MITCH ROGERS
A quiet young man who goes about his business without fuss.
He has a very good football brain and carries out any role asked of him. He’s played mostly in defence but has also shown real promise as a leading forward at AFL Sydney senior level.
He was an unsung hero for the Swans Academy in last year’s U18 National Championships and was rarely beaten in a contest. His dad Andrew played for Essendon and Geelong.
Mitch comes from the Manly Bombers football club.
LUKE SKRIVANIC
Super-talented but yet to fully realise his own potential. He has a strong all-round game, with good pace and agility.
Showed glimpses of brilliance in last year’s National Championships and is striving to be more consistent over four quarters in 2018. He’s versatile and can play midfield/wing or half forward, as well as rebounding from defence.
Luke is from the Pennant Hills FC and played a pivotal role in their AFL Sydney premiership in 2017.
DYLAN SMITH
From the Central Coast of NSW, he is raw but has enormous athletic potential and is still maturing with respect to his football. Has shown huge commitment by travelling long distances to be part of the Academy.
He has good height and versatility and we believe he can really improve this year.
Dylan plays with the North Shore FC in Sydney.
NICK EYNAUD
Passionate and dedicated, he provides voice and leadership in the group. He is already working as a junior coach, and has a great footy brain.
He plays as a medium-sized midfielder. Has been plagued by injuries but is a great kick and makes sound decisions. This year we want him to continue to work hard on his running, especially his speed, and to make the most of his opportunities.
Nick comes from the Pennant Hills FC.
The QBE Sydney Swans Academy would like to acknowledge the support of the Sydney Swans Foundation for the NDS program.
