Sydney Swans extend ruckman Callum Sinclair’s contract

GWS star Stephen Coniglio insists he won’t be distracted about his future, but an unsung hero at the Sydney Swans is singing the virtues of locking his AFL future away.

GWS star Stephen Coniglio insists he won’t be distracted about his future, but an unsung hero at the Sydney Swans is singing the virtues of locking his AFL future away.

The unassuming Callum Sinclair, who grew wings under West Coast superstar Nic Naitanui, is now in full flight as a Swan.

Sinclair has signed a new two-year deal to keep him at the club until at least the end of 2021 and says he is relieved to be free to concentrate on Friday night’s SCG blockbuster against Adelaide.

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The 29-year-old credits the apprenticeship he served under Naitanui and Dean Cox at West Coast for laying the foundations for him to go to another level at Sydney last season.

When the Swans lost Kurt Tippett to retirement and Sam Naismith to a season-ending injury last year, they were scratching around for a No.1 ruckman.

But Sinclair emerged as the midfield saviour, where he is likely to stay for the majority of this season.

Now one of the club’s most respected and well-liked players, he has been duly rewarded for his crucial contribution.

Giant Coniglio says he won’t let himself be distracted by continued speculation over his playing future this season and has set himself no deadline for a decision. But Sinclair admits he’s glad the disruption has been taken away so early in the season.

“It just gives you peace of mind knowing that. I’m a human being and it’s nice to have a bit of job security, and you can just put some foundations in place for life outside football,” Sinclair told The Daily Telegraph.

“In terms of playing performance you can concentrate on the team and the footy itself and not have to think too much about being out of contract and being unsure what your life will be the following year.

Sydney Swans ruckman Callum Sinclair at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“I was pretty keen to stay. The Swans gave me an opportunity to come here in 2015 and I’ve really enjoyed my time here.

“We’ve created a lot of great memories here at this footy club and a lot of great relationships so it didn’t really cross my mind to consider too much else.

“I’m pretty happy to get a deal done before basically the start of the season and can just concentrate on playing footy now for the Swans.”

The Melbourne born and raised Sinclair has lived his entire adult life in Perth and Sydney.

The 200cm ruckman admits cost of living is a factor for out-of-town players who relocate to Sydney.

Sydney and GWS remain dirty on the AFL’s refusal to reinstate the cost of living allowance, but Sinclair says players simply get on with the job.

He has forged his reputation in Sydney on a selfless team-first work ethic.

Sinclair has found a home at the Swans, but he also doesn’t forget where he learnt his craft.

“Nic Naitanui is obviously one of the best ruckmen in the league and when I got to the footy club I got to have two years of playing with Dean Cox and him,” said Sinclair.

“I had a couple of years of shadowing those guys and learning about the ruck craft and both guys are pretty competent forwards as well. It was a great apprenticeship there for a couple of years and I was basically a sponge learning off those two.”