The 19-year-old, who was taken at pick 44 in the 2013 National Draft, exudes enthusiasm and has already impressed the club’s development staff with his ability to follow instructions and an eagerness to improve.
Standing at 194cm with a 91kg frame, Aliir has played predominantly as a key defender for the Swans reserves and has taken on the role with gusto.
His most recent performance was arguably his best, where he collected 14 touches, eight spoils, six tackles and three rebound 50s, in the team’s thrilling one-point win over the Brisbane Lions reserves in Mackay.
Speaking to SwansTV, Aliir said he was thoroughly enjoying his first season as a Swan and was taking in as much as could to perfect his game.
“I’m really loving it,” Aliir said.
“It’s a completely new and different lifestyle and I’m really loving it down here.
“The boys have been wonderful and the coaches have been wonderful, and I’m playing down back in a key position and I’m really enjoying it.
“I’m learning new things every day, which is really good.”
Aliir, who became the first Sudanese-born player to be selected via the Draft, arrived at the Swans following a breakout season in the East Fremantle Colts side.
After playing a season in defence, the teenager was selected in the Western Australian under-18 side for the 2013 National Carnival, and showed plenty of promise with his defensive and rebounding ability.
Following his first five appearances in the NEAFL, and being named as a senior emergency in round five, Aliir said he felt he was developing as a player, but admitted he still has plenty to learn.
“To be honest, I’m just getting a better understanding of the game,” he said.
“Coming from the under-18 level, the game is quicker and everything moves so fast so you don’t really get to think through everything.
“I’m just getting used to the speed of the game and am just picking it up.
“I felt my first few games in the reserves were good, and as a backman you want to spoil the ball and then take it down to the forward line.
“I feel like I’ve been doing that okay, but there is still a lot of improvement to be made.”
Fortunately for Aliir, there’s been plenty of help on hand as he adjusts to the pace and dynamics of AFL football.
Senior defenders Ted Richards and Heath Grundy have both played a role in Aliir’s development, as he turns to the pair for advice as often as he can.
“Playing down back means I’ve got Teddy (Richards) and ‘Reggy’ (Heath Grundy) down there helping me position myself and stuff like that, so it’s been really good,” Aliir said.
“Ted’s been helping me with my starting positions.
“I go up to both he and Reggy as much as I can and try to get as much out of them as I can.
“They’ve been doing it for a while now and they’ve got the bigger bodies.
“As a key defender, I really look up to them and always ask them questions about what I should do in each situation when I’m out on the training track.
“They’ve been really, really good to me.”
The Swans reserves’ will have a task on their hands this week, when they take on UWS at ANZ Stadium in Friday night’s curtain raiser.
With outright second place on the NEAFL table up for grabs, Aliir said it was important he and his fellow defenders put in a good performance against UWS’s impressive tall forwards.
“(UWS) have got a few keys tall in their forward line, so me and ‘X’ (Xavier Richards) will have to do a big job,” he said.
“They’ve got Tom Boyd, who might be playing, and (Adam) Tomlinson is sometimes down there, so there are a lot of jobs for me and’ X’ and most of the defenders that day.”
