Damon Harrison and brothers Bailey and Brennan Cosgrove will lace up for AFL action this weekend as team members for the North Coast in the inaugural Northern AFL Battle tomorrow at Lakeside Oval in Sydney.

“An email got sent out to Inverell Auskick, and then Inverell Auskick passed them on to us, to our parents,” Damon said.

The boys were invited down to train with the Swans where they spun out some of their talent among 22 other contenders for teams.

“Bit intense,” Bailey said.

All the boys agreed the level of athleticism was a step up from playing on their home paddock.

“Running, the fitness part of it,” Damon said.

Brennan said there was heaps more running than when they play league.

The North Coast side will face the Hunter/Central coast squad in the match to represent the QBE Sydney Swans Academy, and put the local talent under the microscope.

The boys trained on Wednesday, and left for Sydney today. They will join their new teammates to watch the Swans take on Richmond at the SCG tonight, then hash it out at Lakeside tomorrow.

The Swan connection plays out until September, but Damon said there is a good chance the game might lead to more opportunities.

“At this game they have Sydney Swans selectors there to make up an under 16 Sydney Swans side,” he said.

QBE Sydney Swans Academy Talent and Operations Manager Chris Smith said the match was a good venue to spot future talent.

“The most exciting aspect about this game is that it showcases the best regional talent in our northern Academy zones,” Smith said. 

“The Northern AFL Battle will allow our coaches and recruiters to see first-hand how each boy competes while representing their region. 

“To see the best 15-to-17-year-olds competing against each other and to see which region takes out the inaugural Northern AFL Battle is something that our Academy staff are looking forward to seeing.”