There have already been plenty of stories written about Sydney Swans’ draftee Aliir Aliir, but one very important point has been overlooked.
The 19-year-old, who last night became the first Sudanese player to be selected at a National Draft, had his dreams come true in more ways than one.
Not only will Aliir have the opportunity to pursue his AFL dream, he’ll get the chance to do it at the club he grew up supporting.
“Being selected by Sydney was unbelievable because I’m a Swans fan,” Aliir told sydneyswans.com.au
“To have players that I’ve always watched like Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack give me a call or send me a text is just unreal.”
Aliir, who developed a fondness for the Swans after working under club legend Michael O’Loughlin with the World XVIII team in 2010, said he was still coming to terms with the fact he would wear the red and white in 2014.
“It still feels so unbelievable,” he said.
“I’m excited and I have so many different types of feelings at the moment. It’s crazy.
“I was watching (the Draft) at home with my family, and my brother was there and he was watching closely but I wasn’t so much.
“I picked up my phone for a second and then my brother was like ‘You’ve been drafted to the Sydney Swans!’
“I couldn’t believe it and then I actually saw my name at pick 44 next to the Swans and I just kind of froze and couldn’t believe it.”
The Swans recruit has one of the more exceptional stories of this year’s draft crop, with Aliir growing up in a Kenyan refugee camp after his mother fled war-torn Sudan, before moving to Australia at age seven.
Aliir’s selection by the Swans sees him become the second Sudanese player to earn a place on an AFL list, following North Melbourne’s rookie listing of Majak Daw in 2009.
By comparison, Aliir stands at 196cm and is 90kg which makes him one centimetre taller and only four kilograms lighter than the Kangaroos forward, despite being more than three years younger.
Aliir shapes up as an exciting prospect for the Swans, with the 19-year-old boasting skills at both ends of the field.
Aliir, who has accomplished the rare feat of representing two states at the National Championships after playing for Queensland last year before moving to Perth in 2013, has developed from a ruckman into a key position player.
This year he played predominantly in defence for East Fremantle in the WAFL.
Despite being unsure about the move early on, Aliir said he was now relishing his position down back and said he’d like to emulate the role played by Fremantle defender Michael Johnson.
“My coach at East Fremantle came in and spoke to me and told me if I was to play at AFL level he didn’t see me as a ruckman, but rather more as a key position player,” Aliir said.
“I wasn’t really keen at first but he had full confidence in me so it made the move a bit easier.
“I’ve watched Michael Johnson from the Dockers a bit and watched his rebound ability and that he pushes up forward and kicks goals.
“I see myself as that type of player in shutting down players and then using my offensive skills.”
Aliir will arrive at the club alongside the Swans’ three other draftees on Monday morning for pre-season training and the young defender said he couldn’t wait to get started.
“I’m pretty nervous but excited at the same time,” he said.
“I can’t wait to get down there and train alongside guys like Josh Kennedy, Kieren Jack and Teddy Richards and all the other boys.
“It’s just going to be unreal.”
