IN THE same week that the Sydney Swans renewed the contract of Nelson Bay AFL recruit Craig Bird, another talented youngster has taken his first steps to realising his sporting dream.
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Seventeen-year-old Jayden Rymer has been asked by the 2014 grand finalists to move and ply his wares in the strong Sydney grade competition.
For Jayden, it was a huge honour and a chance to follow in the footsteps of Bird, who was recruited in the 2007 AFL draft and has gone on play 126 first grade games with the Swans.
"This has been a dream of mine since I was a toddler sitting on the sidelines and watching my dad play," Jayden, who hails from Bobs Farm, said.
"I am looking forward to getting down to Sydney and take my game to the next level."
Starting his football days with the Nelson Bay Marlins, Jayden was earmarked for representative honours with selection in the NSW north coast squad at the tender age of 10.
A midfielder, he has spotted by Swans scouts a couple of years later where he met and trained under idol Michael O'Laughlin.
"2015 will be a huge season for me and hopefully I can be drafted into the Swans in the next draft," he said.
"I have been doing plenty of gym work in the off-season and I will be focusing more on my running and speed."
