Tom Swift (Australian footballer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" Swift is an Australian rules football
er for the West Coast Eagles
in the Australian Football League
.
between 1996–2007 where he was the captain of the 1st XXII in 2006 and finished in the top 40 for the Beazley Medal
.
He was heralded as an elite young footballing talent at the 2006 NAB AFL Under 16 Championship where he played 3 games for Western Australia averaging 36.3 disposals per game, the highest of any player at any under-16 or under-18 carnival since 2001. He also averaged 8.7 marks, 5.0 inside 50s, 6.7 clearances and 5.3 tackles per game for the championships and earnt a place in the 2006 AIS-AFL Academy intake.
In 2007, he ruptured his ACL during a 2007 AIS trial game vs Subiaco at Subiaco Oval, after a routine change of direction, which saw him miss the rest of the football season.
In 2008, he was selected in Western Australia's NAB AFL Under 18 Championships squad, but a grade 2 lateral ligament tear as a result of hyperextension, after landing poorly from a leap during one of Under 18 trial games caused him to miss both the Championship series and the rest of the season.
Despite his injury woes, he still received an invite to the 2008 AFL Draft
Camp and after a strong performance where he finished 3rd in the standing vertical leap (72cm), 5th in the 20m sprint (2.89s) and equal 9th in the beep test (14.1), he was selected at pick 20 in the ensuing Draft by the West Coast Eagles.
for Claremont
in first half of 2009 and was named to make his debut for West Coast against Carlton
in Round 10. He has since played ten games at AFL level and experienced his first win against Essendon in round 18, when he also kicked his first two goals. In the Eagle's round 22 win over Richmond at Subiaco Oval
Swift received 3 Brownlow Medal
votes for a best on ground performance, the first Brownlow votes of his career.
, before being omitted from the side. He returned to the side for the Western Derby
in round 6 and played the next 5 games, before being a late omission from the round 12 game against Richmond. He returned to the team in round 14 against Collingwood, but missed the next week with abdominal soreness and he only managed a further 3 AFL games for the year from round 18-20 before being omitted and playing the rest of the season with Claremont in the WAFL.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er for the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
Early life
Swift attended Christ Church Grammar SchoolChrist Church Grammar School
Christ Church Grammar School is an independent, Anglican day and boarding school for boys from Pre-Primary to Year 12. Located in Perth, Western Australia, the school overlooks the Swan River at Freshwater Bay in Claremont....
between 1996–2007 where he was the captain of the 1st XXII in 2006 and finished in the top 40 for the Beazley Medal
Beazley Medal
The Beazley Medal is an award made by the Curriculum Council of Western Australia to the year-twelve secondary student with the highest Curriculum Council award score. The award is the highest profile and most prestigious academic award for secondary students in Western Australia.The first medal...
.
He was heralded as an elite young footballing talent at the 2006 NAB AFL Under 16 Championship where he played 3 games for Western Australia averaging 36.3 disposals per game, the highest of any player at any under-16 or under-18 carnival since 2001. He also averaged 8.7 marks, 5.0 inside 50s, 6.7 clearances and 5.3 tackles per game for the championships and earnt a place in the 2006 AIS-AFL Academy intake.
In 2007, he ruptured his ACL during a 2007 AIS trial game vs Subiaco at Subiaco Oval, after a routine change of direction, which saw him miss the rest of the football season.
In 2008, he was selected in Western Australia's NAB AFL Under 18 Championships squad, but a grade 2 lateral ligament tear as a result of hyperextension, after landing poorly from a leap during one of Under 18 trial games caused him to miss both the Championship series and the rest of the season.
Despite his injury woes, he still received an invite to the 2008 AFL Draft
2008 AFL Draft
The 2008 AFL Draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2008/09 Australian Football League off-season. These were Trade Week , the National Draft , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft...
Camp and after a strong performance where he finished 3rd in the standing vertical leap (72cm), 5th in the 20m sprint (2.89s) and equal 9th in the beep test (14.1), he was selected at pick 20 in the ensuing Draft by the West Coast Eagles.
2009 season
Swift performed well in the WAFLWest Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
for Claremont
Claremont Football Club
The Claremont Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . Its official colours are navy blue and gold....
in first half of 2009 and was named to make his debut for West Coast against Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in Round 10. He has since played ten games at AFL level and experienced his first win against Essendon in round 18, when he also kicked his first two goals. In the Eagle's round 22 win over Richmond at Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
Swift received 3 Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
votes for a best on ground performance, the first Brownlow votes of his career.
2010 season
Swift played the opening 3 games of the 2010 AFL season2010 AFL season
-Premiership season:The draw for the 2010 AFL Premiership Season is not a random selection of matches, but rather is planned by the AFL. It is intended to produce a balanced draw while also providing the fans and television networks with blockbuster games. In a competition with 16 teams and 22...
, before being omitted from the side. He returned to the side for the Western Derby
Western Derby
The Western Derby is the name given to the Australian rules football rivalry match between the Fremantle Football Club and West Coast Eagles, who both participate in the Australian Football League . As both teams are based in Western Australia, the term 'derby' is used to describe the...
in round 6 and played the next 5 games, before being a late omission from the round 12 game against Richmond. He returned to the team in round 14 against Collingwood, but missed the next week with abdominal soreness and he only managed a further 3 AFL games for the year from round 18-20 before being omitted and playing the rest of the season with Claremont in the WAFL.
2011 season
Swift started the season with Claremont in the WAFL and didn't get his first AFL opportunity till round 11 against Gold Coast. He was omitted for the next game, but returned in round 13 against Port Adelaide and played the next 2 games against Carlton and Geelong before being omitted again.External links
- Tom Swift Profile on the Official AFL Website of the West Coast Eagles Football Club