SYDNEY has officially won the heart of gun father-son and academy prospect Nick Blakey, who has nominated the Swans as his preferred destination for 2019.

Blakey, considered a near-certain first-round draft prospect, had four options to choose from come this year’s national draft, including entering the open draft.

As the son of 359-game AFL great John Blakey, the classy left-footer was also eligible to be taken as a father-son selection by both North Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions.

But Blakey, a Sydney resident and member of the Swans’ academy, has nominated the red and white as his preferred club.

Finals Week 1

Blakey is tied to Sydney’s academy after moving to New South Wales 12 years ago with his father John joining the club’s coaching panel.

The decision comes as no surprise to many draft on-lookers, with the Kangaroos little chance to win Blakey’s services and Brisbane considered no chance.

“We’ve known Nick Blakey for a very long time, but knowing the connection he has with Sydney and the Swans, we knew it would be hard to get him out of there,” North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said on Wednesday.

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After missing most of his 17th year due to a stress fracture in his back, Blakey has had an excellent start to his 2018 campaign.

The promising utility has already proved why he’ll be in such hot-demand come season’s end, booting 12 goals for the Swans in the Under 18 Academy series so far.

The Kangaroos can put more focus into another father-son pick in Bailey Scott, who’s also eligible to two clubs — North and Geelong — under the father-son rule, as well as the Suns as an academy prospect.

But unlike Blakey, the race for Scott is a little more open, however the Suns loom as the favourite to take Scott, who trained with Gold Coast during the pre-season.

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