Young Sydney University Australian football product Jack Hiscox had his bags packed – just in case.
Just in case he was picked up by any non-Sydney team at the annual AFL Draft, after a bout of testing at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, during October.
But the 18-year-old need not have worried. He has been confirmed as one of three Sydney Swans Academy picks, joining NSW/ACT RAMS teammates Isaac Heeney and Abe Davis in the red and white for the 2015 season.
Having been nominated by the Sydney Swan as a Priority Academy Selection, Hiscox capped an important day in his football career on the last day of the AFL Draft Combine by breaking the record in the final test of the day, the 3km time trial. He ran the trial in 9min 18sec, exceeding the long-standing record of Tom Rischbieth, who ran 9:30 at the 2005 combine.
Hiscox, a former junior national 800m champion had a strong week at Etihad Stadium, sharing the best result in the beep test (level 16.1).
Being picked up by the Swans came as a huge relief for the youngster, who said the Draft was something that has been on his mind since he committed to AFL as a 16-year-old at Newington College, Stanmore, where he might have pursued rugby union or athletics.
“I played rugby at the school until I was 16 and I competed in athletics at a high level in the 400m and 800m, but I decided to concentrate on Australian football,” he said.
Playing 12 games for the Swans reserves and for the NSW Rams at the nationals and in the TAC Cup put Hiscox in front of AFL scouts.
The Fremantle Dockers offered a second-round draft pick at the bidding meeting for Academy and Father/Son picks, but the Swans eventually used pick No.38 to secure him.
Now he’s an AFL player his ambitions aren’t diminishing.
“A senior game would be the ultimate goal next year,” Hiscox told The Daily Telegraph’s Neil Cordy. “I want to get used to the new environment and get to know the boys and become part of the group and not be an outsider. I want to get the trust of and show I’m prepared to work hard.”
Having been bought up in Newtown, Hiscox played for the Glebe Greyhounds Junior Australian Football club. When he turned 16 and committed to the code he decided to chance his arm and link up with Sydney University Under 18s in the AFL Sydney Under 18 Premier Division competition in 2011.
His progress was rapid and he made the NSW Under 18 side in his second season with the University.
Hiscox enrolled at Sydney University in 2013 to study Liberal Arts and Science. He was on the Elite Athlete Program but deferred his studies this year to focus on football.
“I’ll probably switch to Human Movement and Health Education when I enrol again,” he said.
While playing with Sydney University Under 18s, Jack was courted by the Sydney Swans to join their feeder program and played two games with the Swans Reserve Grade in the new North East AFL (NEAFL) competition in 2013. He backed that up with eight games this season.
“It’s turned out well so far,” he said of his three seasons with the University Under 18s – he captained the side in 2013 – and his year with the Swans.
Playing on the wing or at half-forward, Hiscox might have played with Sydney University in the NEAFL competition but went to the Swans with the club’s good wishes.
As Sydney University Australian National Football Club president Chas Wilkinson said, the club now has a structured pathway out of juniors to Colts to the NEAFL State League First Grade side.
The pathway also provides opportunities for players to be exposed to the elite AFL level and in particular opportunities to play with the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants reserve grade sides.
“We have worked hard to create an environment which is attractive and a stepping stone into the AFL environment,” Mr Wilkinson said.
“We encourage young and talented players to have a relationship with the Swans and refer young boys going into the program. Jack came through junior club Glebe and came to us as a 16-year-old playing in our Under 18 side. He has always been a year ahead of himself.”
In that respect, Hiscox is the first Sydney University junior product to advance right through the ranks to the AFL draft.
He now has his bags packed for a game with the Swans.