A group of talented athletes took part in the annual First-Choice Athlete Assessment Trials with the QBE Sydney Swans Academy on Monday afternoon.

Up to 50 under-13 boys took part in the trials, which measured coordination, skill and suitability for the 2013 Academy Program.

While a number of Swans Academy assessment days are open to all boys, this week’s trials were for boys who were talent identified by the Academy and AFL NSW/ACT throughout the year.

The boys involved in the trials were regarded as ‘first-choice’ athletes, and have already shown promise in other sports such a soccer, rugby and athletics or had been identified from this year’s Paul Kelly Cup matches and PSSA sports carnivals.

Swans Talent ID and Operations Manager Chris Smith said Academy staff were impressed with the talent on show at the trials.

“It was extremely exciting to see the calibre of talented first-choice athletes at the assessment,” he said.

“Even at this young age, you can clearly see that they are well-advanced in their coordination, skill and enthusiasm.

“It really is a great initiative to get extremely talented boys to seek AFL as a sporting pathway.”

The majority of the group trialled will enter the Swans Academy in 2013 as 13-year-olds, and will begin their pathway to reach an AFL standard.