Following a bumper Draft crop, which includes four players from the QBE Sydney Swans Academy being drafted to the Swans, and a further nine players from NSW/ACT and Queensland drafted to other AFL clubs, Ireland said the national competition was starting to see the benefits of the northern state academies.
“It is not a coincidence that as the academies in New South Wales, ACT and Queensland further establish themselves, we are seeing more and more talent emerge,” Ireland told sydneyswans.com.au.
“This year’s total of seven players from NSW/ACT being drafted to primary lists, is equal to the total over the past five years from 2009-2013.
“The really exciting thing is, I think we have only begun to scratch the surface in regards to talent in NSW and Queensland.
“The academies are in only their fourth full year of operation and the results so far are compelling. It is exciting to think where we can be in another four years as the academies further establish themselves in the market.
“In nearly 15 years, only two players from NSW – Jarrad McVeigh and Isaac Smith – have been selected in the first round of the national draft. This year the Swans selected Isaac Heeney and the important part of his story, is that if it weren’t for the Academy program, it is unlikely he would have pursued AFL football.”
Ireland said he wished to acknowledge the hard work of the Swans Academy staff led by General Manager Dennis Carroll, Head Coach Michael O’Loughlin and Talent and Operations Manager Chris Smith.
“I know how happy our football department, led by Tom Harley and John Longmire, are to have secured four QBE Sydney Swans Academy players in the national and rookie drafts, and also to have added another to the senior list via the elevation of rookie Daniel Robinson,” Ireland said.
“It is an outstanding achievement by the all those associated with the QBE Sydney Swans Academy and the team at AFL NSW/ACT, who have been so important to success of the Academy.
“We are confident that success stories of local talent like Newcastle’s Isaac Heeney, Newtown’s Jack Hiscox and Maroubra’s Abaina Davis and Jordan Foote, can help lead to more success in the future.
“Over a long period of time, we have tried many things to improve the talent pathways in New South Wales and Queensland, but nothing has had the impact or provided a clearer pathway than what the academies offer.
“All of the clubs in New South Wales and Queensland deserve credit for the success of the academies and ultimately, it is the entire competition that will reap the benefits of a deeper, truly national talent pool,” Ireland said.
The QBE Sydney Swans Academy is currently in the process of its annual benchmarking program, which helps identify the brightest prospects to engage in the Academy program.
Players as young as 11 years of age are being identified and engaged in the Academy program, which provides an elite training environment for the players.
NSW/ACT players listed since 2004
| Draft | Primary List | Elevated Rookie | Rookie | GWS Priority Access |
| 2004 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2005 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2007 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2009 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2011 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| 2012 | 0 | 1 | 6 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 3 | 7 | |
| 2014 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
