SYDNEY Swans football manager Dean Moore says the AFL's new second-tier competition will help accelerate the development of the club's academy players.

From 2011, the Swans will join Team GWS, the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast in fielding a team in the North East Australian Football League, which effectively combines the existing AFL Canberra and QAFL competitions.

Moore said the chance to play seven games against AFL reserve grade teams, without restrictions on the number of senior-listed players fielded, would be a great boost.

The Swans are currently limited to fielding 13 listed players at any one time in the AFL Canberra competition.

"That's not to take anything away from the Canberra competition previously, because it's been a very good competition for us to play in and it's provided a really good grounding for our young boys," he said.

"But [the new league] will let our younger listed players test themselves against other AFL players, so that's a positive for us.

"In the games against the reserve grade teams, we can play as many of our boys as we need to. There's no selection restrictions in how many can be on the field at any one point. That flexibility on seven occasions during the season is a real bonus."

The advent of the new league coincides with the first full year of the Swans' academy program, which will be overseen by former senior coach Paul Roos.

Moore said the prospect of a berth in the Swans reserves team would provide significant motivation for the older boys in the program.

"The upper age groups will see this as a real career path into a quality second-tier competition where they can prove their talents against other talented, quality players, hopefully with a view to being drafted by the Swans," he said.

"The other thing from the players' viewpoint is that their talents are on display to the rest of the clubs."

Under the new structure, the Swans will compete in the eastern conference, which is the existing Canberra league with the addition of GWS.

Moore said it was important that the Swans reserves side was able to continue playing in front of its Canberra supporters after developing a loyal following over several years.

While the Swans will have considerable exposure to GWS' bevy of young players before its AFL debut in 2012, Moore said he didn't consider it gave his club any advantage.