The rookie list has proved a fertile recruiting ground for the Sydney Swans over the years.
Current Swans Kieren Jack, Nick Smith, and Heath Grundy all started their careers on the rookie list, while there is no greater rookie list story than that of former Swans champion Brett Kirk.
On Thursday night, Nathan ‘Nipper’ Gordon will be the next player given his chance to emerge from the rookie list, when the Swans use pick 85 in the AFL Draft to promote Gordon to the senior list.
It has been a long journey for Nipper to find his place on the senior list, having joined the Swans in 2008 on a NSW scholarship. At the end 2009, he was placed on the Club’s rookie list, and re-drafted as a rookie again at the end of 2010.
In what was a make or break year for Nipper in 2011, he impressed the coaches enough to be temporarily elevated onto the senior list for the retired Craig Bolton and played two senior matches. At the end of the season he was told the good news.
“John Longmire called me during the break to let me know I was going to be elevated on to the senior list and ever since then I’ve been really bubbly and upbeat,” Gordon told sydneyswans.com.au.
“It doesn’t change all that much for me, but I think my confidence has grown.”
While Gordon was one of few rookies who missed out on a chance during the 2011 NAB Cup, he continued to work hard and eventually got his chance at senior level, making his debut against the Western Bulldogs in Canberra in Round 7.
Gordon says the senior experience he gained during the 2011 season has made him hungry for more and he realises there is plenty of work to be done to make that happen.
“In my first senior game, my fitness gave out a bit, but the coaches said that happens in your first game, so I can build that base up. Other things I need to work on are being clean with my disposal, learning the running patterns and my decision making,” he said.
“The main thing the coaches said to me at the end of the year is that every year I have been at the Club I’ve improved. Hopefully next year can be the same and I can improve again.”
As he attacks his first pre-season as a senior listed player, Gordon has set himself the goal of featuring in next year’s NAB Cup.
Current Swans who began their AFL careers on the rookie list:
Ben McGlynn
Marty Mattner
Shane Mumford
Nick Smith
Kieren Jack
Heath Grundy
Mike Pyke
Tommy Walsh
