Four selected for Sydney Swans academy
Four junior Peninsula Swans players have been selected to take part in the new Sydney Swans Academy.
Marc Gleisner from under-11s, Jarrod Taylor from under-14s and Jacob Mandy and Dale Walker from under-15s will take part in a 40-week coaching and training program at the fields of Macquarie University with 397 other young players..
Players were invited from all over the Central Coast, Hunter, Illawarra, North/Northwest Sydney, Sydney Harbour regions and South Sydney to try out for the Academy.
"The Swans Academy is a ground breaking initiative that aims to nurture the sporting talents of young boys and shape them into future Sydney Swans players," said Peninsula Swans club president Mr Shaun McGuirk.
The players underwent two selection events held at the Lakeside Ovals in Sydney, taking part in kicking and handballing drills as well as speed and agility testing and skills sessions using soccer and tennis balls
The sessions were conducted under the supervisions of elite talent identification coordinator Mr Chris Smith and a team of Sydney Swans scouts and coaches who assessed the boys' athleticism and footballing potential.
"The Swans Academy will provide Aussie Rules players as young as nine the opportunity to be nurtured by the AFL club and to be shaped into future AFL players," said Mr McGuirk.
"The Central Coast Academy of Sport will provide first-class training facilities for the local player as a part of the Swans Academy Program."
Former Peninsula Swans player James Webster has been "rookie-listed" to the Essendon Bombers Football Club in the recent rookie draft.
Webster started his AFL career at the Peninsula Swans before moving to the Gosford Tigers, where he was awarded an AFL scholarship by the Bombers.
He then played for the North Shore Bombers for two years before playing with the team's Greater Western Sydney TAC Cup Squad in 2010.
James will now live in Melbourne to further his career with Essendon.
Email, 20 Jan 2011
Shaun McGuirk, Peninsula Swans