Sydney Swans champion Nick Davis has underscored the importance of the NEAFL to the next generation of stars eyeing tilts at the Draft.

A number of QBE Sydney Swans Academy members have been eluded by selection for the AFL’s Under-18 Championships, a five-round competition fielding many of the country’s brightest young footballers.

But a number of overlooked Academy stars are staking their AFL claims in the NEAFL on the road to November’s National Draft.

Davis won the 2005 flag with the Swans and is the Academy’s Talent ID and Development Manager and says the NEAFL is “huge” for those striving to realise an AFL dream.

“To be able to test yourself against AFL-listed players, whether it’s Gold Coast, Brisbane or GWS, is a great opportunity,” Davis told SwansTV.

“They also get to play with really good players that are in the Swans’ NEAFL side at the moment. On both counts, the opposition they’re playing and who they’re playing with is huge for their development.

“Over the back end of the Championships they might get a go, but if not they’ll be really solid competitors for the NEAFL side over the rest of the year.”

A number of Academy stars faced AFL-listed quality in the NEAFL side’s clash with the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium last Saturday.

Josh Stern was the pick of the lot in a return of 18 touches and two goals, while Sam Wicks (19 possessions, one goal) also fired in the Round 11 fixture.

Bailey Stewart collected 17 disposals and a goal after claiming the Round 8 NEAFL Rising Star Award.

The East Coast Eagles junior took out the Rising Star gong in a match with the Brisbane Lions, raking in 20 touches, five tackles and two goals against one of the hottest pools of AFL-listed talent in the competition.

Both the senior and NEAFL Swans sides are this week enjoying a bye and the NEAFL side is again set to meet the Lions in its next game, at Blacktown International Sports Park next Saturday.

Davis said Stewart, Stern and Wicks had shown promising signs in the NEAFL.

“Some of our Academy boys, like Bailey Stewart, Josh Stern, Sam Wicks, have been members of that NEAFL side over the past month and have been turning in some really good performances,” Davis said.

“As disappointed as they are to have not played in the Championships as yet, they have come out and have shown really good character and their performances in the NEAFL have been really good.”

Blossoming Academy forward Nick Blakey played his first Championships game of the series in the Allies’ match with Victoria Metro last Saturday and kicked a goal in a two-point loss.

Davis said the Championships provided the 18-year-old with an invaluable opportunity.

“It’s important for Nick to be able to test himself against the best opposition in the country,” Davis said.

“It’s really important that Nick gets out there and shows what we know he is. He’s a great player, a great young kid and hopefully he’ll be fit and healthy to play the rest of the series and then play some more NEAFL footy over the back end of the season.”