Being a Sydney Swans Scholarship player has given Nathan Gordon a taste of life as an AFL footballer, and he hopes this can continue beyond 2009.

The 19-year-old was identified at the New South Wales Under-18 state trials at the start of 2008, and is thoroughly enjoying his time at the Swans.

“I love it. I love being there, it’s such a good place to be. All the guys are just so helpful and this year I’ve got to know them a bit better, it’s been good," Gordon said.

Gordon has been training full time with the Swans in 2009, and has been one of the best for the Swans Reserves this season.

However, Gordon’s Scholarship finishes at the end of this year and he is hoping to extend his time at the Club with consistent games for the rest of the season.

“My goal is to just to finish the year strong and put a statement out there that I want to be with the Club next year.” Gordon added.

“My consistency needs to be up because every now and then I have a poor game but I’m really happy with where I’ve come from at the start of the year."

The Swans currently have thirteen Scholarship players, including Gordon and regular Reserves teammates Matthew May and Ryan Bottin-Noonan.  Another player who came through the Scholarship program is Craig Bird, who went through a similar path to Gordon.

“He’s done the same thing that I did and he went through (NSW/ACT) Rams like I did. I think he excelled more at the Rams level than I did. He’s really helpful too…(we) get along real well,” Gordon said.

Gordon is grateful for the opportunity he has been given by the Club, which he believes has given him a greater opportunity for a professional football career.

“If it wasn’t for the Scholarship program, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere through the draft or through NSW Rams, I think I’d still be playing local footy.

“It’s just helped me so much, I can’t thank Chris (Smith) any more, it’s really helped me.”

Sydney Swans Elite Talent Coordinator Chris Smith is one of the people responsible for bringing Gordon to the Club.

Smith believes Gordon displayed numerous qualities which resulted in him being given a scholarship.

“The first thing that came to our attention was his balance, reasonable skills by hand and foot, strong hands overhead overhead and an ability to win the ball in congestion," Smith said.

“Under further investigation, he had elite running credentials and his size and height meant a certain degree of versatility with respect to  the range of positions and roles he could play.

“There were many characteristics that we were impressed with. When I first saw him he was definitely a player with plenty of potential and one who would prosper in an elite training and playing environment.”

Gordon admits that he was a ‘bit nervy’ around the players in his first year at the Swans, but feels more at home in 2009.

“This year I’m just so much more comfortable and confident and I think it’s showing in my games,” Gordon said.

Smith agrees with Gordon, but thinks that the Baulkham Hills junior has the potential to have a career in the AFL.

“I think he’s slowly starting to have the belief in his ability and that’s starting to reflect in the way that he’s playing.  In saying that, I think he’s got a number of areas of his game that he needs to keep working on but he’s definitely making significant progress,” Smith added.

“He has taken time to adapt to the professional environment but now there seems to be a belief that he belongs.

“Now he has a whole preseason ahead of him in order to use the sort of tools and lessons he has acquired over 2009 and use them to full advantage in 2010."

The Swans Reserves take on Eastlake at Manuka Oval on Sunday, with Gordon hoping to put in another impressive performance after his 27 possessions against Belconnen last round.

“A team goal is to just work together and work towards finals. Everyone’s got to be working together and not playing as individuals, just trusting each other and helping each other out,” he said.

The Reserves sit in fourth place on the ladder after 16 rounds of the AFL Canberra competition, but Gordon is confident that the team can take out the title for a fifth successive year.

“We’re not in as strong situation as we were last year, but there’s still a possibility we can. I think we can.”