If the AFL had its way, Patrick Mills would be running around in a Sydney Swans jumper rather than in the NBA in a Portland Trailblazers uniform.
But the lack of a suitable academy system in Canberra led the talented young footballer to instead stick with the world-renowned basketball program at the Australian Institute of Sport, which produced the likes of Andrew Bogut, Luc Longley and Lauren Jackson.
The AFL has hit back, announcing yesterday the introduction of new academies across NSW, the ACT and Queensland.
While all AFL clubs will have an opportunity to gain players from the academies, they are specifically linked to the Swans and the Brisbane Lions, plus the expansion teams on the Gold Coast and western Sydney.
Those four clubs will have first choice of the players on offer from their particular region before the remaining AFL teams.
Asked about any previous missed opportunities without an academy program, Swans chief executive Andrew Ireland said: ''It was something that really came home to us about four years ago with Patrick Mills,'' he said. ''Patrick actually won the best player award at a junior carnival playing Australian football and at that stage we'd identified him as being a talented young player.
''But the reality was without a club like the Swans who would've chased him hard, to us it was much harder for AFL Canberra to convince him to choose AFL football in front of basketball at the AIS.
''That's a classic example of a quality sportsman who made a decision and it was about the program in front of them.''
Mills went from the AIS to St Mary's College in California before representing Australia at the Beijing Olympics and being drafted in the second round of this year's NBA draft by Portland.
While the boundaries for the NSW clubs are yet to be set, GWS general manager Alan McConnell said Canberra players would likely be in the GWS academy zone.
''This is a long-term commitment to development,'' McConnell said. ''This is a significant step in the development pathway.''
The AFL also wants to ensure no other highly-rated youngsters slip through their fingers.
''One thing that's been continually frustrating as a football club is the ability to talk kids into playing AFL football,'' Swans coach Paul Roos said. ''There hasn't been a vehicle. Not only elite athletes but young AFL footballers, some of those kids get dragged away to rugby through the schools or soccer or whatever it might be. [These academies are] a significant thing to be able to present to young families.''
The AFL regularly snares some of the best young athletes in the country but not in NSW, the ACT or Queensland.
The two states and territory combined provide just 11 per cent of the total players on AFL lists.
AFL NSW/ACT general manager Dale Holmes said this was a significant initiative.
''The bottom line is it gives kids in NSW and the ACT the opportunity to play for the two clubs that will be based in this state,'' he said. ''We've done a lot in trying to grow participation in the 25 years since the Swans have been up here and seen a lot of growth in attendances and viewerships, but in the area of talent we've still got a while to go.''
Meanwhile, Canberra has secured one of the biggest AFL games in season 2010 with the Western Bulldogs to host the Sydney Swans in May at Manuka Oval.
The official AFL draw is released today, but The Canberra Times understands that the ACT Government has been granted its wish for an early-season Saturday afternoon fixture next year.
The Swans and Bulldogs will return in a replay of the round 10 game they played at Manuka Oval in May this year.
In that Saturday afternoon game, 12,457 people turned out to watch the Bulldogs comprehensively beat the Swans by 40 points.
Next year's match is expected to attract a sell-out crowd if Bulldogs recruit Barry Hall plays. It will be his first game against the Swans, who he left through this season after a series of on-field incidents.
The exact date of the match and more details will be available from 10am today when the AFL releases its official 2010 draw.
Manuka Oval has already been confirmed as host for a 2010 pre-season NAB Cup match between the Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions on February 14.
Canberra will also host a Western Bulldogs community camp leading into the NAB Cup match.
AAP and Merryn Sherwood
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