Balancing difficult training days with the rigours of study during the school year are the NSW Scholarship Scheme players, who are spending increasing amounts of time at the Club as they push for a place on the Sydney Swans list.
Nathan Gordon, recently elevated to the Swans’ rookie list in the 2009 Rookie Draft, was one such player whose skills, fitness and dedication impressed Elite Talent Coordinator Chris Smith and the Swans’ senior coaching group.
“With Nathan, we knew he was definitely a player with potential and one who would do well in an elite training and playing environment,” Smith said.
“Many of the current scholarship group look to Nathan and his fellow scholarship pathway player Craig Bird for advice and mentoring on making it through the process and into the senior team.”
Training with the Club now are 13 scholarship players, plus two younger boys who are considered scholarship prospects in 2010, the last year of the scholarship program before the launch of the new academy system in 2011. The boys are given tailored training programs to complete in their own time, and are put through their paces under the watchful eye of Smith and the Swans’ conditioning team, at regular Club evaluation sessions.
“Recently the boys had been given an eight week running, strength and kicking program to complete, so the aim of the evaluation days are to see how they’re going with those programs and how they improve,” Smith said.
The players took part in a three kilometre time trial over cross-country terrain, a skills component including kicking, touch work and body work, and a strength competency test. At each station, they were assessed on their technique and improvement since previous assessments.
“We were really impressed with some of the boys - it basically gives us a good gauge to see which kids can push themselves and go through the pain barrier, and it was very pleasing to see the boys doing well and following their training programs," Smith said.
"We certainly look at these boys as being the next generation of Sydney Swans footballers, and although they have a long way to go, it’s great to see them develop and improve within this elite environment.”
