The 10-year-old comes from a family of strong Sydney Swans supporters and has watched numerous AFL games on television, but he hadn’t played the game until he joined the Muswellbrook Cats under 11s team last season.

After just one game, the mid field rover trialled for the Sydney Swans Academy under 11s development squad at a talent identification day in Sydney in July and after another trial in October was picked in the team.

The Scone Grammar School year 5 student will travel to Newcastle for training every Monday starting next week and to Sydney every second Wednesday where he and his team mates will be trained by some of the best in the game, including development officer Paul Roos.

The development squad is made up of youngsters reigning from Tweed Heads down to Canberra in the south; however McGrath was the only player from the Hunter region successful in selection.

The squad aims to develop the younger players for possible future honours in the Sydney Swans grade teams.

McGrath who also plays intertown soccer, rugby union and competes at athletics, said he loves sport and enjoyed his first season with the Muswellbrook Cats under a good coach Adam Warner.

He said it felt great to be selected in the development squad and he was looking forward to getting his uniform and starting training on Monday.

“I hope to build my skills through the coaching and learn more about the game,” he said.

“I also think it will be good to meet new friends.”