203cm Liam Hoy, 16, is Sydney Swan’s newest AFL prodigy

Standing at 203cm, Liam Hoy looks made for the AFL, but until seven weeks ago he’d refused to play. Now the 16-year-old has been recruited by Sydney Swans.

Liam Hoy,-14 and 6 feet & 7 inches tall, is a Waverley College student and has recently started playing Australian Rules for the school and after just 7 weeks of playing the game has been scouted to go and train with the U16's Swans Academy. Picture: John Appleyard

IN JUST seven weeks Liam Hoy has gone from refusing to pick up an Australian Rules football, to being recruited to the Sydney Swans Under-16s academy.

The 203cm 16-year-old from Centennial Park said he was content playing rugby league and union, until he begrudgingly gave in to the nagging of school teachers and his parents to have a crack at Aussie Rules.

And the Year 10 Waverley College student hasn’t looked back, earning himself a nomination in the Wentworth Courier’s Junior Sports Star award, sponsored by Rebel.

Liam Hoy has been scouted to join the under-16's Swans Academy. Picture: John Appleyard

He kicked six goals in his debut against Trinity College at the start of May, something talent identification coach for the Sydney Swans Chris Goodrope saw first-hand and couldn’t ignore.

“It is definitely unusual, we usually target the 13 to 15 age bracket and try to get them into the academy at a young age with a good four to five years of development so they would be ready to be picked up in the draft,” he said.

“But his height, athleticism and ability to learn in a quick way meant we couldn’t ignore him, we couldn’t be ignorant, (just because of his age)”

Sydney Swans academy players have been joined by Liam Hoy. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Liam has ditched league and union and is now solely focused on making the 30-boy squad for next year’s Under-18s Swans academy, which will be whittled down from 48 boys.

Despite his outstanding achievement, he was modest, saying his dream run started off as “mostly luck”.

But even he was amazed when after his first game for the school an email popped into his inbox from the Sydney Swans asking him to come to their Moore Park training oval for a tryout.

Liam Hoy hopes to one day be a Sydney Swan, just like Lance Franklin. Picture: Getty Images.

Liam Hoy is hoping to earn a spot in the Swans Academy for next year’s competition. Picture: John Appleyard

“I couldn’t have imagined it to be honest. I was pretty happy, now I have to just make the most of the opportunity,” Liam said.

He knows he has a long road ahead, with most of the Under-16s squad having started by the age of eight.

“Most of the players are better than me obviously, but they have helped me a lot with skills and made me feel pretty welcome.”

The thing that has stood out most for coaches is his determined attitude.

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“He has been doing some ruck work with some senior players and he has been doing quite well, he was a surprise packet,” Goodrope said.

And the sky is the limit for the towering teen.

“Its probably too early to tell (if he will make the top 30), he is a bit raw and a bit fresh to footy but in terms of what we have seen previously, he has an opportunity to make it if he really wants to,” said Goodrope.

“As long as he wants to make it, we will have the resources here to help him get there.”