Sydney Swans expand support for North Coast
Photo: Aiden Burgess, News of the Area
The Sydney Swans Academy has further strengthened its support of the North Coast talent pathway by adding to the existing partnership with the North Coast Force and Northern Heat programs, as well as reinstating a local Academy program.
In 2023 the Swans Academy will provide financial support to Northern Heat coaches, provide professional development opportunities and technical advice to North Coast Force coaches, and utilise the Hunter and Coffs Harbour representative carnivals as talent ID opportunities.
In addition, the Sydney Swans have reinstated their own Academy program in both Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie, with the focus on boys and girls aged 11 to 15 years. Inclusion into this program will be via identification at the Swans’ Open Assessment Trials held annually in Sydney (August), by identification at one of the two representative carnivals whilst playing for the North Coast Force, or by recommendation from Force coaches.
This program will predominantly run in Term 1 when there is no overlap with North Coast Force commitments.
Leon Cameron, Technical Director of the Sydney Swans Academy, said that the focus is on building the pathway to help players develop and grow.
“We have a great partnership with the North Coast area, and the Northern Heat and North Coast Force are a pathway and opportunity for players to take the next step,” Cameron said.
“It’s about building the game in NSW and making sure the Swans Academy has a presence in a number of regions, and the North Coast is one of them.”
The North Coast Force will be conducting open selection trials for the 2023 program on Sunday 26 March and Sunday 2 April. Successful athletes will train fortnightly (Wednesdays) from 26 April.
Age groups for boys will be Under 13 (born 2010 and 2011), Under 15 (born 2008 and 2009), and Under 17 (born 2006 and 2007).
In the Youth Girls space, exciting plans are underway to add a Youth Girls 15 team to the Youth Girls 13 and Youth Girls 17 teams that competed in 2022.
Stay tuned to the AFL North Coast social channels for updates on the North Coast Force nomination process and selection trials.
