Jacob Konstanty is now a Sydney Swan (Image: @sydneyswans/Twitter)
On draft night, the Sydney Swans brought a bag of tricks to the party before walking away with a player that has his own repertoire of mischief and magic.
Sydney acquired livewire forward, Jacob Konstanty of the Gippsland Power. Swans and opposition fans will be familiar with the last fiery small forward from Gippsland that landed at Sydney in Tom Papley.
Konstanty has naturally been likened to Papley for their shared, distinct passion when it comes scoring goals. Now the Swans have both.
When Konstanty’s name was called out and he was announced as a Sydney player, he, his family and friends delivered for the cameras via video call from a living room. The outpour of joy and excitement from the group was polar opposite to the reserved reactions of prospects that had been invited to the Marvel Stadium function.
Making his first media appearance as a Swan the morning after being drafted, speaking to The Inner Sanctum, Konstanty was asked if last nights events felt real yet.
“Not really, to be honest,” Konstanty responded.
“I’m just going with the flow, I’m just buzzing to be a Swan.”
“I was just hoping to get my name read out, and to go to the Swans, it’s just an absolute honour, so yeah, I’m privileged.”
More AFL Draft News:
Aaron Cadman ‘can’t wait’ for exciting new experience at the GWS Giants
AFL Draft 2022: O’Brien delighted with West Coast’s first round
Newest Bomber Elijah Tsatas on the ‘cryptic’ text from Dodoro prior to Pick 5
With the Papley comparisons coming thick and fast, Konstanty hasn’t been coy about wanting to link up with the 2021 All-Australian.
“Paps (Tom Papley) for me, I can’t wait to see him and get to know him a lot better.”
“Paps is someone I look up to and model my game on, so to learn off him, face to face, would be crazy.”
“I met the coach this morning and heaps of the boys have reached out to me, and the staff at the Swans so I’m just pumped to be part of the club.”
Konstanty had many admirers, even from his now cross-town rivals, GWS, but it was never certain he would be selected in the first round.
“It was a goal, like a dream (to be a first round pick), but I didn’t focus on it at all, I just focused on week to week performance.”
Subscribe to our newsletter!
About Author
