The Sydney Swans have a qualifying final against master tactician Ross Lyon and the Fremantle Dockers to worry about, but that hasn’t stopped star midfielder Kieren Jack fuelling speculation of a future move over to the NRL.
The 2012 premiership player says he’s open to the idea of an eventual rugby league career to follow in the footsteps of his father’s legendary playing days. Fullback Gary Jack, a star in the 1980s, represented NSW 17 times and Australia in 20 Test matches.
The more recent trend has seen a number of rugby stars, including two-time defectors Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau, converting to the AFL game, but Jack believes reversing the trend isn’t out of the question if enough dollars are offered.
“You’d never say never, I tell you,” Jack told Triple M radio on Thursday when asked if he’d consider an NRL deal for upwards of $800,000 a year.
“I mean I loved rugby league as a kid, I certainly did but I’ve found a path in AFL and I’m rapt with that, but I mean I can certainly see why players do it … it’s certainly a big challenge and there is a bit of a financial reward there but the challenge it offers these players … it can be really rewarding.”
“I’ll just say yes … yes … why not?”
Jack has played 160 games since debuting as a 19-year-old eight seasons ago and is in line for another premiership after the Swans beat out Hawthorn to finish atop the AFL ladder.
But the 27-year-old will first have to escape the clutches of the league’s top tagger, Ryan Crowley.
“Oh yeah, (I’ll take) any chance to go at him and try to beat him,” Jack said when asked earlier in the week about drawing the Crowley tag.
“He’s a niggly sort of player and he tries to get under your skin a fair bit, like a few of their players, but you can’t be distracted by it and can’t let it get yourself off your own game.
“We’ve got a process to go through and a game plan to adhere to, they’ve got a similar one, it’s just about who stacks up the best.”
The Swans host the Dockers at 14:45 on Saturday at ANZ Stadium.
Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
