NAB Cup a pathway to success

By Alison Zell

Sunday’s NAB Cup matches between the Sydney Swans, GWS GIANTS and Carlton at Blacktown International Sportspark will be the first taste of senior AFL football for many of the latest local Sydney Swans recruits.

NSW’s Brandon Jack, Dane Rampe and Sam Naismith are all set to play in the round-robin tournament this weekend and one of last year’s NAB Cup standouts says the competition is the place for rookies to stake their claim.

Harry Cunningham, now 19, was drafted to the Sydney Swans rookie list in 2011 and after impressing during pre-season, was named to play the Swans’ opening round NAB Cup matches twelve months ago.

The Swans coaches liked what they saw and after playing every game of the Swans’ 2012 NAB Cup campaign, Cunningham was promoted to the senior list and made his AFL debut as the substitute in the Round 1 match against the GWS GIANTS.

“I was just excited to get my first game really; I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly,” Cunningham said.

“The NAB Cup is definitely an opportunity for all young blokes to stake your claim and really have a crack and if you get the opportunity you’ve really got to take it.

“I was lucky enough last year to have a couple of good games and I was lucky enough to make it to Round 1.

“I see it as a great opportunity for young blokes especially to earn the respect and trust of the players and the coaching staff.”

While Cunningham dropped back to the rookie list for the rest of the 2012 season, he continued to work on his game in the NEAFL competition and was a key player in the Swans reserves’ Grand Final loss to Queanbeyan.

“It was disappointing to drop down and not really come back up but I’m looking to improve that this year,” he said.

“Hopefully I can crack the 22 and stay in.”

Unlike many of his teammates, Cunningham got to stay in his home state to try and live his AFL dream.

“It was great to stay in the state, not too far away from home unlike a few of the other players,” he said.

“I was happy the Swans picked me up and I’ve made a quick transition into Sydney life.

“I’m loving it in the moment and hopefully I can stay a while longer and have a real crack.”

With the NSW Riverina a hotspot of AFL talent, Cunningham has footy in his blood and his recent number change, from 44 to 7, was a chance to follow in his father’s footsteps.

“It’s a bit of a traditional Cunningham number, number 7,” he said.

“The opportunity came up and I took it so there’s a bit of responsibility now and I’ll have to prove that I’m worth the lower number.

“It was dad’s famous number down in Wagga and even in Broken Hill, he played a fair bit of footy out there, and it just ran in the veins through dad and the brothers so I thought while it was there I’d better grab it.”

NEW NSW/ACT PLAYERS LISTED FOR NAB CUP ROUND 1

Sydney Swans

Harry Cunningham
A quick midfielder who played one senior game in 2012 but impressed at reserves level. From Wagga Wagga in southern NSW, drafted in 2011.

Brandon Jack
Younger brother of Swans star Kieren, a small forward with blistering pace. QBE Sydney Swans Academy member from the Pennant Hills Demons in Sydney.

Dane Rampe
AFL Sydney 2012 Phelan Medallist and the Howarth Trophy representative player of the year. Midfielder from Clovelly in Sydney’s east.

Sam Naismith
Tall ruckman from Gunnedah in north-eastern NSW. Spent 2012 playing in the AFL Sydney competition with North Shore Bombers and with the Swans reserves.

Click here to get your tickets and see NSW’s future stars on show