Get To Know Your New Recruits – A Q&A With Jacob Sideris

Cricket or Football? This is a question posed to many budding footballers early on in their careers.

New Swan Districts recruit, Jacob Sideris, was one of these players with the potential to go either way.

Coming off a 6-point defeat in the 2019 Reserves Grand Final, former Claremont Tiger Sideris is an exciting acquisition to the Swans midfield and forward line, looking to take his game to another level at his new club.

We sat down with Jacob to learn more about where he’s come from, his footy goals and what he wants to achieve while at the Swan Districts Football Club.

When did you first start playing footy?

I started playing Auskick at about 7 or 8. I loved it straight away. I was always playing footy or cricket.

You’ve played state cricket, when did you decide to focus on footy?

I was named in a couple of squads, but never actually played a game. It was around that time when I had to choose one of them, and I wasn’t getting a game in cricket, so I thought footy was a better option.

So was that the main reason you chose footy over cricket?

Not completely. In Winter I enjoyed footy more and in Summer I enjoyed cricket more, which is why my mind kept swaying between the two.

Was there ever a point where you thought you’d like to play footy as a career?

Yeah, definitely. Still do to this day. I’d love to play AFL. I think everyone who plays footy has that dream. I just have to play as good as I can this season, and see what happens from there.

You were playing at the Claremont Football Club. Why did you decide to come and play at Swan Districts?

I spent five season at Claremont, two of them were in the Colts. I wasn’t having the same enjoyment at the club for the last couple of years and thought that I needed a change. Phil Smart (GM of Football Operations at Swan Districts) gave me a call and I met with him and thought that this was the best time to make a change. I looked at the Swans list and saw that everyone was more around my age and thought I’d fit in nicely, which has proven to be the case so far. They are all a great bunch of blokes and I’m really happy to be here.

It will be nice to have the Swans supporters on your side too?

Yeah, I was talking to Pickers (league coach Adam Pickering), and I always said that whenever I played against the Swans, the crowd were just unreal. I thought they were the best in the WAFL when playing against them, so I’m looking forward to them cheering for me and not against me. I can’t wait to play in front of them.

What strengths do you bring to the team?

I hope to step up in my leadership, with it being quite a young squad. I’ve got to get on the park first though. I think the way I can find the football and my football smarts. Being this height, I’m one of the smaller players in the competition, so you have to have a lot of smarts. I bring that along with my passion and study of the game.

What are you hoping to achieve this season while you are at the club?

I really want to enjoy my footy like I did when I was younger. It’s simple, but at the end of the day, that’s why you first start playing footy, because you love it, and I want to get back to that.

What position are you hoping to play in during the season?

Midfield and forward. Preferably inside or on the wing, half forward or forward pocket.

Along with playing at Swans, what else do you do?

I’m a Personal Trainer at Green Zone in Joondalup. Danny Green owns that one and he came to a few Swans games over the last couple of years, so hopefully he comes and supports me and the team this season.

Is getting on an AFL list the dream for you still?

Yeah. It’s been a dream from when I first picked up a footy and started kicking it with dad. I’m not one to give up easily and I’m only 22, so anything can happen.

What AFL team did you grow up barracking for?

Growing up I supported Freo, but now I have a few mates scattered throughout the competition, so I just follow them more than a certain team. If I had to choose though, I’d still say Freo.

Make sure you’re at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday 4^th April, to see our boys kick-start their season with a blockbuster match against reigning Premiers, Subiaco.