An AFL premiership would be special for all 22 members of Sydney’s grand final side, but for four it might just mean that little bit more.

Kieren Jack, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Jarrad McVeigh played their junior football in Sydney, while Troy Luff used to bounce Craig Bird on his knee while playing cards in Nelson Bay.

While there are plenty of others from NSW on the Swans’ list, this quartet and Corowa-born coach John Longmire will represent the state on the last Saturday in September.

Their paths to the game are somewhat diverse, but a love of the Swans is generally the common factor.

For Jack and McVeigh, who both represented Sydney’s premier Australian rules football club Pennant Hills, the 1996 grand final Luff played in helped fuel their passion.

“The first time I ever really was aware of AFL was in the ’96 grand final when the Swans made it,” Jack says.

“To see the Swans and the Sydney public get behind the team then, that was what really drew me to the game.

“To now to be a part of it, it is almost surreal.”

Jack was a nine-year-old when Tony Lockett’s point after the siren in the preliminary final against Essendon steered the Swans into the grand final.

McVeigh, who grew up on the Central Coast but played in Sydney because his parents thought it was the only way for him and brother Mark to be noticed by national recruiters, was 11 when he watched Plugger’s heroics at the SCG.

“I remember sitting behind the bench there and watching Plugger’s point. I got myself a ticket to the grand final, which was great,” McVeigh said this week.

“I went with mum and dad, we flew down.”

While the son of Balmain legend Garry Jack was a rugby league hopeful prior to that game, McVeigh had attended the 1993 AFL grand final and was already dreaming of representing the Swans on the biggest stage of all.

“Obviously you learn from your dad and dad played for Williamstown in the VFA and over in Perth,” McVeigh said.

“You get that from your parents, then you go on with it.

“At my school, there was only three of us that played Aussie rules. We were a bit of a novelty.

“Obviously we got bagged about AFL, but it didn’t concern us at all. I played rugby league with all my mates and tried different sports.”

The AFL say its push into western Sydney is about just that, providing another option for young children.

Roberts-Thomson hails from Sydney’s north shore.

“I remember when I grew up I was playing basketball, rugby, Aussie rules, tennis – I think that’s what the kids these days have the luxury to do.

“It’s about choice and following what they enjoy.

“Our game of AFL is a wonderful game. The skill set that’s required to play the game was one of the things that attracted me initially.”

With Sydney now boasting an academy and a second team in town, he hopes more will follow their love of the game to an AFL grand final.

“Before I came to the Swans, I was a big fan of the Swans,” Roberts-Thomson said.

“I think that’s one of the great things about being a Sydneysider, the Sydney fans appreciate the local guys who have come through the ranks.

“It’s a team whose supporter base is really starting to grow and certainly is very passionate about their footy now.”