THE NORTHERN Academies are set to boom in 2025, and a large part of their star power is Sydney Swans Academy product Noah Chamberlain. The versatile talent is a National Academy member and spent time training with the Swans’ senior group in preseason before a slight ankle sprain.

Having already debuted for the Allies, the key forward will likely push for a VFL berth in 2025. He bases his game off the likes of Mark Blicavs and Will Hayward, while having Sydney Academy graduates Indhi Kirk and Joel Cochran in his corner. We sat down with Chamberlain for a preseason Q&A.

>> AFL DRAFT: 2025 Race to #1 – Noah Chamberlain

PRESEASON Q&A

Q: Noah, can you start off with your earliest memories of football and when you started out in the game?

NC: I started pretty late to be honest, compared to everyone else. I think Under 12s is when I first really started. Obviously growing up in Sydney football’s not that prevalent. I remember playing for St Ives juniors and just loved it from there. My dad was really a big advocate for it.

Q: Did you play any other sports growing up?

NC: I played basketball, did some swimming and soccer as well.

Q: At what age did you give them away to make way for footy?

NC: I was really big on soccer until about Under 13s. I was playing rep soccer but when I made it into the [Swans] Academy it was all a bit too much. So I had to decide which to pick and I picked footy, and I’m very happy I did now.

Q: How was the experience of starring in Sydney’s TikTok docuseries, Young Bloods?

NC: It was really good to see it come out. Just to see what we do, people from outside of footy or the Swans who might not really understand get a little insight into what we do, which is really cool. The whole process between getting filmed and seeing it out there, it’s just awesome to see. I’m really happy that it happened.

Q: Do you still keep in touch with some of the draftees from last year? 

NC: I keep in touch with Joel (Cochran), he got drafted to Collingwood. He did really well in the combine and he’s been great for me. I was really close to him, about a five-minute drive away so I’ve been able to keep in close contact with him, which is nice.

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Q: What’s it been like mingling with some of the top prospects in the AFL Academy?

NC: It’s been really good. There’s a lot of talent, especially in our year, so I think it’s really good to be in that professional environment with them and train with them to see what they do, and what I can do to help me be a better player.

Q: You had the opportunity to train with the Swans senior group as well?

NC: Yeah, I did about a week and a half of preseason with them. It was a really good experience and just a lot of learnings from the players and what they do to become as good as they are. 

Q: Did you have any players take you under their wing?

NC: I think from the men’s team Indhi Kirk has been really good. He’s training really well at the moment and he’s just helped me get to know all the boys. He introduced me to them and he’s been really good for me.

Q: Is there anyone else at the top level you try to mould your own game on?

NC: I think Mark Blicavs is a really good one just because he’s so versatile and I try to be that player. Will Hayward too. I think those two are really prevalent and I can aspire to be what they are and how they go about it.

Q: Being quite versatile yourself, what kind of role will you play this year?

NC: I’ll mostly be a key forward and I think I’ll switch onto the wing if the ball’s not coming down into the forwardline much, to help me get involved. I think I have a really good skill asset to help the team with my field kicking and my ability to move the ball well. So, going on that wing could be a good spot for me to help the team.

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Q: You mentioned a few strengths there, how would you describe yourself as a player?

NC: I’m very versatile, I think I can play multiple positions. I’m really competitive as well and I always strive for the best. Every time the ball is in the air I always crash the pack and try my best to mark it. I think I’ve got that hunger and that edge to be better. That’s really helped me and helped my confidence to become a better player. 

Q: Are there any things you’re still looking to improve on?

NC: I would definitely say my right-foot kicking and my goalkicking. This coming year I really want to improve my goalkicking percentage and hopefully impact the scoreboard a bit more, and then just be able to use both sides of my body as well. I think that would be really important to help me grow as a player.

Q: You’re carrying an injury at the moment, what’s the diagnosis?

NC: I sprained my ankle during match sim, just rolled it jumping in the air and landing. It should be about a week or so. I didn’t want to rush anything, that’s why I didn’t compete [in preseason testing]. We’ve got games coming up in about two weeks and that intraclub next week, so I just want to be pretty cautious and make sure I’m ready for that.

Q: What kind of goals have to set for the year?

NC: My ultimate goal is to get drafted. Also just making the Allies squad and having a good campaign for the Under 18s Coates [Talent League], and then the National Academy as well. From there hopefully I get invited to the combine and perform well, then hopefully get drafted.

Q: Are there any teammates you think we should look out for to have a big year?

NC: I think there’s a couple. Kaiden (McNamara) is really good and Max (King). He’s been training really well. Max obviously come back from injury, he’s had a lot of injuries and a disrupted preseason, but now he’s back into it and obviously you’ll be able to tell in the games that he’s going well.

>> Preseason Q&A: Kaiden McNamara (Swans Academy)