POTENTIAL Sydney academy recruit Nick Blakey, who is also eligible to join North Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions as a father-son next year, has spent this week at the Swans as part of his NAB AFL Academy placement.
Blakey, the son of former Roo and Fitzroy great John, is considered one of the top talents of the 2018 draft crop. Both clubs will have access to woo the athletic 194cm prospect, but he can also join the Swans given he has lived in their zone for more than five years.
John is an assistant coach with the Swans and Nick played with the Allies in the under-18 championships this year before a back injury ruled him out for the rest of the season.
The week's placement is a key part of the NAB AFL Academy's program, which sees members of the level two group head to an AFL club for an insight into the training and day-to-day life of top-level players. Some have been at clubs this week while others will do their training placements next week.
Another national Academy prospect who has options next year is Bailey Scott, the son of former Cat and Roos player Robert. Scott is eligible to join both either club as a father-son, as well as the Suns as an Academy player having resided in Queensland in recent years.
Bailey will spend time at all three clubs this month as part of the Academy's program, with the tenacious midfielder getting a glimpse inside each of the possible destinations.
Some of the players have been assigned clubs most local to them – such as talented Geelong Falcons midfielder Sam Walsh training with the Cats – while others are sent to clubs with links through the Next Generation Academy.
North has had Tarryn Thomas training at the club and will get first access to the exciting Tasmanian next year through the indigenous and multicultural zones, while the same will apply for Collingwood and Isaac Quaynor, who has trained at the Pies this week.
Potential early pick Jack Lukosius, a tall and athletic forward from South Australia, will train with Port Adelaide, while exciting West Australian Ian Hill will be at West Coast.
The club placements come in a busy period for the NAB AFL Academy members, having recently finished a training camp in Darwin. They will also head to America next month for a high performance camp at the IMG Academy in Florida before finishing their tour in Los Angeles.
Recruiters from AFL clubs will also head to the US to follow the prospects.
WHO IS TRAINING AT YOUR CLUB?
Adelaide: Izak Rankine, Connor Rozee, Hugo Munn
Brisbane Lions: N/A
Carlton: Bailey Smith, Jye Caldwell
Collingwood: Isaac Quaynor, Curtis Taylor
Essendon: Jack Bytel, Chayce Jones
Fremantle: Jason Carter
Geelong: Sam Walsh, Ned McHenry, Bailey Scott
Gold Coast: Bailey Scott
Greater Western Sydney: Mat Walker
Hawthorn: N/A
Melbourne: Max King, Hudson Garoni
North Melbourne: Tarryn Thomas, Bailey Scott
Port Adelaide: Jack Lukosius, Jackson Hately, Luke Valente
Richmond: Zane Barzen, Ben King
St Kilda: Riley Bowman, Sam Fletcher, Bailey Williams
Sydney: Nick Blakey
Western Bulldogs: Rhylee West, Buku Khamis
West Coast: Ian Hill, Tom Joyce
