Sydney Swans Academy talent and top 10 draft prospect Max King will make his VFL debut with the Swans on Saturday.
The New South Wales talent will line up against 2024 runners-up Southport in Round 13 of the VFL season, with King named as the 23rd player for the Sydney side.
In the VFL, the 23rd player for an AFL-aligned club is a player under the age of 20 who is an active Talent League player or active Northern Academy member. In the case of King, the teenage prospect is a member of the Swans Academy. 23rd players can also only be used in the role four times in the home and away season.
King follows in the footsteps of other Northern Academy talents Dan Annable and Isaac Waller, who debuted for Brisbane's VFL side earlier this season, while Essendon NGA-tied prospects Adam Sweid and Hussien El Ackhbar played in the Bombers' reserves this year too.
King is a 191cm midfielder-forward with immense aerial ability due to his strong vertical leap.
The academy Swan also has good attributes at ground level with clean hands and speed, making him a versatile prospect with tons of upside.
Anticipated to be a top 10 selection in the 2025 National Draft, King's VFL outing on Saturday will be his first test against grown adult athletes.
It will be a challenging test at that, as the Sharks sit second on the state league table, while the 1-9 Swans hold 20th spot.
Sydney veteran Jake Lloyd will take to the field for the reserves for the first time in 10 years as well on Saturday, while other AFL-listed Swans Riak Andrew, Corey Warner, and Peter Ladhams are also inclusions.
