THE 2023 season is fast approaching for budding AFL Draft prospects around the nation, including a couple of national academy members tied to the Sydney Swans.

Powerful pair Lachlan Cabor and Caiden Cleary are raring to go ahead of their respective top-age campaigns, throughout which they are set to wax with one another quite often.

Despite battling a few preseason niggles, Cleary says he’s “feeling fit, strong and ready to go” having gained a wealth of experience as a bottom-ager in 2022.

“Preseason’s gone well, it’s gone pretty smoothly,” he said. “To have a good start of the year is one of my goals… my ultimate goal is to get drafted.”

“I was pretty lucky, I got to play a lot of good footy last year. I played decently well and played in the Allies, so that’s set me up with a little bit of experience this year so I kind of know what’s coming and I’m not just getting thrown into the deep end.”

Things went a little differently for Cabor in 2022. An ankle injury ruled him out for much of the year, though the two-year AFL Academy member still got to turn out for NSW-ACT, and in the Under 17 Futures showcase on AFL Grand Final day.

Heading into season proper, he’s been able to train with the Swans’ senior group and says the rehab process helped him deal with the “mental” side of football.

“In my bottom-age season I was injured for pretty much the whole season,” he said. “I just want to play some good quality games of footy and get some games under my belt.

“I’ve had a couple of training sessions with the first grade Swans and have been doing some camps with the Allies and AFL Academy, so (preseason) has been really good.”

The athletic quality of both players is hard to deny. Cleary is a hard runner who thrives on impacting contest-to-contest, while Cabor enjoys taking the game on with pace and flair.

Those traits play significantly into how either prospect fares on-field. Cleary’s combination of work rate and explosiveness have seen him used on both sides of midfield, and Cabor’s straight-line speed makes for eye-catching work off half-back.

“I love the role of either being able to shut down and play defensively, or take the game on,” Cabor said. “Being able to take (opponents) on is my strength, if I’m one-on-one with someone I can beat them.”

Cabor, who has eyes on more midfield minutes, may well join Cleary on the inside in 2023.

“I think my best position is as a midfielder, inside mid,” Cleary said. “Getting the ball out to the wingers and outside runners, that contested possession role is what I like to do. I pride myself on my endurance on the field to get to every stoppage.”

For all their upside, though, there remains some pertinent areas for improvement. Both players are looking to sharpen their skills in hopes of elevating their games, and look towards some handy elite-level guns for further inspiration.

“When I’m absolutely gunning it at full tilt out of a stoppage, just hitting that short lead on the kick is what I’m working on,” Cleary said. “Focussing on lowering my eyes and hitting that short kick, and also some of my running patterns.

“I like to say I mould my game on Lachie Neale, he’s a real focus of mine. Josh Kennedy, who just retired last year from the Swans, he’s a good role model of mine as well.”

Cabor, too, put a Sydney twist on his improvement areas and inspirations.

“I’ve been improving throughout preseason on my kicking, both right and left foot,” he said. “I’d also say some of my decision making when I’m out on the field.

“I probably take bits and bobs out of a few different players. I like Luke Parker‘s toughness, (Marcus) Bontempelli‘s leadership, and then also Chad Warner‘s explosiveness.”

Both supporters of the Swans, Cleary and Cabor quite naturally suit the style of their senior team. They blend toughness with flair, strong running abilities, and the capacity to move the ball on quickly – in their own ways, of course.

For Cleary, being part of the Swans Academy since he was 10-years-old has inevitably aided that alignment throughout his footballing development.

“They’ve shaped me as a footy player and let me know what I’m good at, what I need to work on and also to have fun along the way,” he said.

“The Academy has given me a pathway to reach high standards of footy,” Cabor added. “The coaching staff and the expectations around training have been really good in helping me to push myself to become a better player and a better person.”

Though a fixture is yet to be formally announced, the Swans will take part in the early stages of this year’s Coates Talent League, which begins on March 25.

Both Cleary and Cabor will be core members of Sydney’s academy side, before linking with the Allies mid-year. The chance to represent the AFL Academy over in South Australia also beckons on April 15.