THE SYDNEY Swans Academy have completed an undefeated Summer Series after downing the GWS Giants Academy by 43 points in Blacktown on Saturday. Star prospect Max King booted six goals as his Swans set up the victory with an ominous seven goals to one opening half.

GWS came out with improved vigour in term three to win the quarter, though by that point the margin was unassailable. The result saw the Swans finish the Summer Series 3-0, while the Giants went 0-3 as both sides now prepare for their Coates Talent League stints from April to May.

GIANTS ACADEMY 0.3 | 1.4 | 4.7 | 5.9 (39)
SWANS ACADEMY 3.1 | 7.4 | 9.7 | 12.10 (82)

Giants Academy: R. Hamilton 2, I. Baldwin, H. Bromson, T. Malmborg
Swans Academy: M. King 6, O. Clifton, I. Luke, J. O’Loughlin, B. Lenarduzzi, A. McCartney

SCOUTING NOTES

GWS GIANTS ACADEMY:

#2 Isaac Baldwin
Small Forward/Midfielder | 177cm | 18/08/2006

Baldwin’s turn of speed got him out of plenty of tight spots, often knowing where the pressure was and acting to evade it. The over-ager used his quick feet to dart through traffic with quick possessions, doing so initially as a high forward before stepping into midfield. He booted a goal in term three having been dealt with after a mark, making use of the 50m penalty to slam home a long-range set shot.

#5 Ethan Matthews
Defender | 185cm | 04/09/2008

Matthews again showed promising signs across half-back, proving clean and efficient with ball in hand. The bottom-ager’s smooth movement and sound reading of the play saw him mop up several errant Swans forays, wheeling away onto his left side and delivering slick passes. He was also quite sharp by hand barring a poor moment in term three where he coughed the ball up for a Sydney goal.

#20 Bailey-Dean Latanis
Midfielder | 183cm | 07/12/2007

Having spent the first two games out on the wing, Latanis was unleashed on-ball but remained a second possession winner. He tended to play in one high gear and was freed up to do so by teammates, who fed him on the move by hand. Latanis often looked to drive the ball forward by either taking ground or launching a long kick, sacrificing pinpoint efficiency at times. He found more ball away from the contest after half time and was a handy avenue forward in attacking phases.

#22 Kohan Prenter
Wing | 187cm | 16/02/2006

Prenter is among the Giants’ powerful and tall utilities who impressed with his movement. The over-ager was clean off the deck and looked exciting when charging forward, often taking the game on in explosive bursts. His ability to track the ball off the wing, especially going forward, made him a threat in both 50m arcs, and he played the role in effective passages.

#28 Riley Hamilton
Tall Forward | 189cm | 15/08/2006

Hamilton was the Giants’ most viable target inside 50, playing above his 189cm standing to clunk some sensational contested marks. Whether flying in from the side or protecting his space, the over-ager was able to pluck the ball at the top of his reach and generate shots on goal. He ended up with two goals but could have had more, putting several set shots wide. One of his best plays was an assist where he pointed to where he wanted Harper Bromson to lead and hit him up at full tilt.

#39 Jim Houston
Ruck | 196cm | 10/02/2007

The Giants have a knack for finding rucks and while slightly undersized at 196cm, Houston imposed himself on the role. His craft was terrific, holding space and working to front position to either win taps or grab to clear the ball himself. While clunky at times, Houston showed a willingness to kick off both feet, took a couple of strong overhead marks, and competed to the end.

Others:

The likes of Lachlan Moresi and Oliver Withers stood tall in midfield. Moresi’s power and defensive appetite were impactful, while Withers was clean at the coalface to win his share of clearing kicks. Wingman Joshua Allen was another whose speed caught the eye in short bursts, and defender Brody Kane offered plenty of aggressive drive on the rebound. In the tall department, Harper Bromson showed good mobility up forward and snapped a third quarter goal, while Taj Malmborg brought the intensity as a secondary ruck option and also snapped a goal in term three.

SYDNEY SWANS ACADEMY:

#8 Nicholas Andreacchio
Midfielder | 178cm | 03/10/2006

Andreacchio reprised his role in midfield before a shift out to the wing after half time. The over-ager wanted the ball in his hands and looked to generate speedy overlap run through the middle. Such play produced a pair of goal assists for Max King in the second quarter to put a stamp on Sydney’s ascendancy. Andreacchio was sometimes one-dimensional in his run-and-gun approach, but mixed it up with a more composed inside pass during the final term.

#10 Lachlan Carmichael
Midfielder | 183cm | 27/08/2007

Having mostly cut his teeth as a defender, Carmichael featured through midfield on Saturday and had little trouble getting his hands on the ball. He proved deceptively strong and was clean in the clinches, biding his time to make good decisions and use the ball efficiently by hand and foot. Carmichael’s playmaking style was quite measured and he tended to operate at a different tempo to others, though he could benefit from taking more risks. The Allies representative thought he had a goal in the final quarter, only for his accurate shot to be called touched off the boot.

#11 William Jenkin
Wing | 174cm | 25/11/2008

A mainstay out on the wing, Jenkin accumulated possessions with little fuss and hardly wasted a touch. The bottom-ager showcase terrific hands and vision in tight spots to add to his impact on the outside, where he roamed as an outlet in transitional play. Jenkin also showed good endeavour defensively to stick strong tackles despite his smaller stature and frame.

#14 Kaiden McNamara
Midfielder | 186cm | 26/04/2007

Much like Chamberlain, McNamara converted his usual defensive role to feature prominently at the centre bounces on Saturday. The top-ager won his share of clearances, tending to dump the ball long but getting decent penetration on his kicks. Even when able to drive his legs into space, he couldn’t resist launching by foot. Among McNamara’s highlights was a speccy in the third quarter, as he began to rack up the ball away from stoppages. His physical intent was typically sound, too.

>> Preseason Q&A: Kaiden McNamara

#20 Guy Jenkin
Wing/Forward | 174cm | 25/11/2008

Jenkin displayed his versatility on Saturday, starting out on the wing before shifting forward. He was able to impact with courage in the air, gut running across the ground, and clean handling off the deck in what was a well rounded performance. The bottom-ager’s agility through traffic and neat skills are among his strengths, and although he remained involved in attack, couldn’t quite hit the scoreboard with a third quarter set shot. He and his twin brother Will ran riot on the outside.

#33 Max King
Tall Forward | 191cm | 09/01/2007

It was a regal performance from King, who kicked goals in every quarter to put together one heck of a highlight reel. What’s more, he did so in a slightly altered role as Sydney’s spearhead forward in the absence of usual marking targets Noah Chamberlain and Tom Ryan. King’s explosive speed was on show as he dared to take on opponents hot on his hammer, burning them off with ease to create scoring opportunities. He searched high up the ground to help connect the Swans inside 50 and was impossible to tie down closer to goal, where he took several uncontested marks on the lead. Despite missing a few set shots, he generally finished well and impressively did so off both feet in general play. He also competed aerially to bring others into the play. At full tilt, he is an incredibly tough matchup.

Six goals for Swans Academy prospect Max King in a 43pt win vs. the Giants – including this one. Full of raw talent and athleticism, some clubs rate him among the top five. #AFLDraft

Scouting Notes tonight ? pic.twitter.com/YsADTDNvbY

— Michael Alvaro (@MichaelTAlvaro) March 18, 2025

>> AFL Draft: Race to #1 – Max King

Others:

The famous O’Loughlin name was prominent for Sydney as bottom-ager James showed good craft and smarts up forward. He often ventured up the ground and converted a set shot goal in the second quarter. Bottom-agers Lachlan Price and Conrad Blackwell-Smith got to work in midfield, finding plenty of the ball, while ruck Oscar Clifton competed hard. Another famous name, Aidan McCartney (son of Jason) showed signs as a marking key forward but remains quite raw. He’s also a 2026 prospect.

SUMMER SERIES RESULTS

Click the links for full Scouting Notes

ROUND 1:

AFL Canberra U22 3.7 (25) def. by Swans U18 Academy 9.9 (63)
Giants Academy U18 2.10 (22) def. by AFL Sydney U22 12.11 (83)

ROUND 2:

AFL Canberra U22 9.9 (63) def. Giants Academy U18 9.6 (60)
AFL Sydney U22 5.1 (31) def. by Swans Academy U18 7.8 (50)

ROUND 3:

Giants Academy U18 5.9 (39) def. by Swans Academy U18 12.10 (82)