A group of Maitland youngsters is following on the same path into the AFL forged by Sydney Swans star Isaac Heeney.
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Maitland-raised Heeney captured the imagination and headlines of the AFL when the Swans used their academy draft concession to sign him in the first round of the AFL draft two years ago.
Maitland Saints under-11 players Jarrod Inglis, Hamish Roy, Xavier Russell and Marshell Riches have been called into the Sydney Swans Academy where Heeney fine-tuned his skills and trained under elite coaches.
The quartet join under-11 teammates Zack Stewart, Rahn Sonneveld, Olly Latter and Denver Ross who have been academy members for the past year and under-13 Trevon Bob who was identified this year by the Swans after only his second game for Maitland after moving from the Northern Territory.
Heeney, went to school at Black Hill Public School and later All Saints College in Maitland, but with no local AFL club at the time he played his junior football with Cardiff Hawks progressing to the senior team before moving full time with the Swans Academy.
One of his former Cardiff teammates and now Maitland senior player Ben Stewart is overseeing the development of the under 11s at club level.
The team, which features his son Zach and Maitland senior coach’s David Ross’ son Denver, plays in a semip-for a spot in the grand final on Sunday after going through the season undefeated.
The young Saints have dominated the competition scoring an amazing 850 points and conceding just 129 along the way.
Inaugural Maitland Saints Juniors president Duane Roy, whose son Hamish is among the new inductees in the Swans academy, said the growth of the club and the success it was having was amazing.
“We have been so lucky to have Ben involved for the past couple of years coaching his son’s team,” Roy said.
“I would love to see him take a wider role overseeing the junior coaching in the future.”
Roy said involvement in the Sydney Swans Academy was a big commitment for the boys and their families.
“In addition to two nights club training, the boys have an academy session in Newcastle each week and once a fortnight go down to Sydney,” he said.
