Kieren Jack Biography

Kieren Jack announces his retirement, effect at the end of the 2019 season.

"If you'd asked me at 18 (as a kid) with a one-year rookie deal, whether I'd be here 14 years later, I would have told you you're dreaming," he said.

"I feel so fortunate to have come to this club. I've created so many memories with the guys I've played with that I'll remember and cherish for the rest of my life.

"It's a sad day but one I also want to celebrate."

On the eve of his 250th game, Kieren Jack says he'd be lucky to make his way onto an AFL list these days as a draft hopeful.

Jack's story has been one of remarkable persistence, with the Sydney local transforming himself from a kid with a rugby league background and little natural footy ability into a Swans favourite son.

"I was small in stature and I could hardly kick, but I could tackle, so back pocket was pretty much the position I was limited to," he said.

"It took me two years to fast-track my kicking to get it to a level where it was consistent (enough for senior footy).

"You'd be hard-pressed to find a coach or recruiter back then who would have thought I'd play five games, but while I didn't have the talent, I had a relentless attitude to work hard and improve my game.

"It would have been a wild, wild dream to think that I could get this far, so it's really special."

Hayden Young, a potential top pick in the 2019 AFL Draft, has been awarded the 2018 Jack Collins-Alan Schwab AFL Life Members scholarship.

The scholarship assists in the development and education of young players and has been awarded in the past to an impressive list of current AFL players.

"Hayden knows how to read the ball when it comes into the backline and has the ability to intercept the ball," NAB AFL Academy head coach Luke Power said.

"Other features of his game are his recovery in contests, left-footed kicking and decision making off the half-back line."

Kieren Jack has been ruled out for at least the next fortnight due to a nagging hip injury.

"We've been playing him now for five weeks and it's not getting better, it's getting worse," Swans coach John Longmire said.

"He needs at least a couple of weeks off and hopefully (with) some rest and recovery over the next few weeks, we'll be able to get him back into good form and get him fit and firing for the rest of the season."

Josh Kennedy is named as the sole captain for the Swans in 2017, replacing former co-captains Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack, who decided to step down after off-season discussions about the future of the club with coach John Longmire.

"There's aspects of my leadership that are going to evolve and improve, and there's no doubt that has to be the case," Kennedy said.

"I know I'll have the support of the leadership group and together we're steering the ship which I take great confidence out of.

"It's still a little bit daunting but not much has to change, and that's due to Jarrad (McVeigh) and Kieren (Jack), and the captains before them who have set the foundations."

Luke Parker pays tribute to Kieren Jack ahead of his Sydney teammate's 200th game.

"He shows up each week whether he's 100 per cent or not and you know what you're going to get from him," Parker said of Jack.

"He really challenges the group to get better, drives the standards at the club, and sets the standard on the field with his tackling, his pressure and his intensity.

"Off the field even when we've had a good game he's looking at areas we can improve and he's never satisfied with where we're at as a club.

"He's an outstanding leader, and captain of this club, and a massive key to us being successful this year."

After a tumultuous week, Kieren Jack leads Sydney to an emphatic 38-point win over Geelong at Simonds Stadium.

In his 200th game, and after a week in which a private family spat became very public, the Swans co-captain had 24 disposals, 10 tackles and three goals in his side's victory.

"Kieren went through a tough week, that's been well written and documented and everyone's over it to be honest," Sydney coach John Longmire said.

"The players support him and Brandon in a really strong way, but in the end I think it's time for people to move on."

Kieren Jack declares his love for his girlfriend and pleads for the feud with his mother to be a private matter.

The now-public dispute with his parents has overshadowed Jack's impending 200th game.

It's believed Donna Jack's disapproval of her son's partner, Charlotte, has resulted in a split between the Jack family in what should have been a week of celebration.

"Family issues happen, but they need to remain private," Jack said.

"I'm not going to get caught up in getting into a he-said-she-said, I think it's probably an immature approach.

"What I will say is that my priorities are firmly with my partner and my little brother, who I love and care for very much."

Kieren Jack's impending 200th game has been overshadowed by news of a falling out between the Sydney Swans co-captain and his parents.

Fairfax newspapers have reported that Jack and his younger brother Brandon, also a player at the Swans, are involved in a feud with their rugby league legend father Garry and mother Donna.

Kieren is due to play his 200th game when the Swans clash with Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Friday night, but it seems like the occasion will be soured after Donna Jack took to social media to express her disappointment at being told not to attend the match.

It was also reported that Brandon asked his father to leave the Swans' locker room at a NEAFL match earlier this season.

Garry Jack is one of the biggest names in rugby league circles after playing over 250 NRL games, as well as representing New South Wales and Australia with distinction.

The Swans declined to comment on the situation when contacted by AFL.com.au other than to say the situation was a private family matter, and they would support Kieren and Brandon in any way they can.

Kieren Jack signs a three-year extension to stay with the Swans until the end of 2019.

"I've got a partner who lives in Perth, so for the first time I've probably had to take in outside scenarios," Jack said.

"When it all boils down to it I think Sydney is the place where I belong, and I'm thankful to her (Charlotte) that she recognizes that.

"The Swans are the club that first introduced me to the game of AFL football, it has been a great journey so far and I want to help some success going forward.

"I'm still hopeful and optimistic that there are more things to come.

"The real driver for me is team success and making sure we can emulate that for some of the boys who haven’t achieved it, and making sure that blokes who have, can achieve it again. "

Dan Hannebery and defenders Dane Rampe and Heath Grundy have been added to the Sydney Swans leadership group for 2016.

The trio was voted into the new roles by teammates on the Swans' pre-season camp to Coffs Harbour a fortnight ago, joining co-captains Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack, plus Nick Smith, Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker in the eight-man group.

Missing last year's disastrous finals series was shattering for Sydney Swans co-captain Kieren Jack, who says he feels he let down the team.

Jack played every game of the regular season but suffered a grade two medial ligament tear in his left knee in the Swans' final match of the year against Gold Coast at the SCG, and wasn't seen again.

"I wanted to be out there to try and set the standard for the team and that’s something I try and do in every game that I play," he said.

"I want to make sure that if I can play I get out there and play, if I can train I get out there and train. I don't want to miss a game at all because I don't want to let the team down.

"That’s an attitude I've tried to bring along with me and teach the young guys coming through. To be ruled out was devastating."

Swans co-captain Kieren Jack says Callum Mills has impressed everyone at the club and believes the No.3 draft pick will play senior football in 2016.

"He's a really quality kid; he's determined, mentally strong and has performed really well over the pre-season, he hasn't missed a beat," Jack said.

"We don't want to put too much pressure on him because he's an 18 year-old kid coming into the system for the first time, but I think he can certainly have an impact."

Josh Kennedy becomes a dual club champion after taking out the 2015 Bob Skilton Medal as Sydney's best and fairest.

The former Hawk led the competition for contested possessions, stoppages and clearances this year, and has now incredibly finished on the best and fairest podium in each of his six seasons in Sydney.

Kennedy – who won his first best and fairest in the Swans' last premiership year of 2012 – capped off a brilliant season by taking the award from All Australian Dan Hannebery, with co-captain Kieren Jack in third.

Kieren Jack faces an uphill battle to play again this season, with Sydney confirming he will miss the next three weeks with a knee injury.

Jack now faces a race against the clock to feature for the Swans in the finals series, but could still be available for selection should his team make the Grand Final.

"It is a really disappointing setback for Kieren and as our co-captain, he is clearly an important player for us," Swans general manager of football Tom Harley said.

"He is the ultimate professional and will work closely with our medical staff to do everything he can to get himself right."

Kieren Jack's 2015 season could be over after the midfielder suffered a knee injury in the Swans' 63-point win over Gold Coast.

Swans coach John Longmire said the initial diagnosis from club doctors was that Jack could miss 2-3 weeks with a medial ligament strain in his left knee, meaning that unless Sydney make the grand final, the tough on-baller is done for the year.

"You get an injury around your knee at this time of the year (and) you're not doing cartwheels, so he wasn't too happy about it. But that's football and he's going to do everything in his power to give himself the best possible chance," Longmire said.

"He's a pretty positive bloke, he'll go about his rehab now and give himself every chance."

Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack will co-captain the Sydney Swans again in 2015.

"It's a huge honour, and something I treasure along with Kieren as well," McVeigh said.

"To be able to lead a very good football team every week is a dream come true for me."

Kieren Jack says he'd be delighted to again cop a Ryan Crowley tag when the Swans take on the Dockers in their qualifying final at ANZ Stadium.

"Oh yeah, (I'll take) any chance to go at him and try to beat him," Jack said.

"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."

Kieren Jack credits a long stint tagging some of the AFL's best players in helping him enjoy outstanding team and individual success and reach 150 games for the Sydney Swans.

"My background in AFL football wasn't big," Jack said.

"I had to learn the game and the patterns of the game and tagging allowed me to do that.

"Defensively and (when) tackling, I was a very competitive kid, so that went hand in hand.

"So I think 'Roosy' thought if he could put me on a player and try to negate them with my competitive attitude, I'd be able to pick up some things along the way and learn that offensive side and where players go to get the football."

Kieren Jack says he feared missing most of the pre-season with a bout of glandular fever would derail his 2013 season.

"I missed a good six to eight weeks of training in January, during which I was pretty much bedridden," Jack said.

"Certainly if you speak to any footballer they talk about pre-seasons and how important they are and they set you up for a big year.

"I was really questioning at the start of the year whether my body would be up to it."

Jarrad McVeigh claims his second Bob Skilton Medal as Sydney's best and fairest for 2013.

McVeigh polled 809 votes to finish ahead of fellow co-captain Kieren Jack (769) and last year's winner Josh Kennedy (750).

"In a season where injuries struck down key personnel, Jarrad has been a consistent contributor all year," Sydney coach John Longmire said.

"Both on and off the field, Jarrad's leadership has been outstanding.

"His ability to adapt at various stages of the season and go into the defence shows his versatility and ability to play his role for the team at all ends of the ground.

"Jarrad stood up in big games throughout the season and led from the front. He's an outstanding player and co-captain and a real leader at the club."

Kieren Jack says starting his career as a tagger on some of the competition's best players has been invaluable in his development as a defensive-minded midfielder.

"As a defensive tagger, I played on some of the best; Ablett, Judd, Cousins and I played on Akermanis in my first game. I really just followed them and took notes and tried to stop them," Jack said on Fox Footy's On The Couch.

"As learning as a player I grew from there, picking up bits and pieces around stoppages and the patterns they were running."

Just hours after signing a new contract with the Swans, Kieren Jack has been named as Sydney's co-captain for the 2013 AFL season along with Jarrad McVeigh.

"Over the past few years we have seen Kieren develop enormously as player, but also as a leader," Sydney coach John Longmire said.

"I'm sure he will continue to grow into the captaincy role but I'm really confident he and Jarrad will be a fantastic combination to guide our group.

"It's a great thing for football in NSW to have a couple of local NSW boys leading the team into the 2013 season."

Swans speedster Lewis Jetta says his improvement in 2012 was due to working with teammate Kieren Jack.

"It was just a lot of hard work. I wasn't as fit as I was last year as I am this year and I jumped on Kieren Jack's back and just followed him all pre-season and just came out really fit and it had just shown in my games," Jetta said.

"I managed to get down into defence and then push back hard into our forward line and kicked a couple of goals."

Kieren Jack's father, rugby league legend Garry, says Saturday's Grand Final was 'the best sporting event' he's been involved in after watching his son help the Swans take out the 2012 AFL premiership.

"I never won one as a player, but to win one as a father is just fantastic, absolutely fantastic," Garry Jack said.

"This was the greatest sporting event I've been involved with ever. I was here in '05 when they won and to win today and see Kieren kick two goals, I'm just so proud of him."

Bulldogs ruckman Will Minson escapes with a reprimand following an appeal after being seen to apparently stomp on Swan Kieren Jack.

Tiger Jack Riewoldt has been icing his ankle around the clock, including waking every three hours, in a bid to play against GWS this week.

"It's been a great lesson for our younger players — how much you put into (recovery)," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

"We're very, very confident he'll play, which is a credit to Jack and the work he's put in to make himself available for this game."

Matthew Richardson says Jack Riewoldt's body language on the field will always be criticised, but it is making him a leader.

"He has got a very vibrant personality and sometimes people, I believe, have judged him wrongly on that. It's something that when he came into the game as a young player people saw it as a negative, [but] I think it's a huge positive in his game," Richardson said.

"He is a good leader out on the field as well. He does express himself a lot … he's always pointing and directing other teammates where to run. He is a natural forward, he knows how to set up the forward line very well."

On the eve of his 100th match, Swans midfielder Kieren Jack admits he knew little about the game when he decided to chase his AFL dream.

"I think I missed a lot of the fundamentals of the game of AFL as a young kid growing up," Jack said.

"I was a little bit disadvantaged from the Victorian and South Australian kids. I just wasn't taught the knowledge of the game as much as they were, which I found out when I got here.

"That was certainly a challenge, but I've had some really good mentors and coaches who have helped me along the way."

Jack Ziebell says he sees the irony in being suspended for a bump that the AFL then used to promote the game in its 2012 advertising campaign.

"It's very ironic," Ziebell said.

"I mean they punish you (and) tell you … 'Don't do this, don't do this' and all of a sudden they're showing it on the ad and saying, 'Look how good our game is'."

Sydney Swans midfielder Kieren Jack will miss the next four to six weeks after injuring his right ankle last Friday against Carlton.

"It will be the first time I've missed a game since 2008 and I hate not being out there with the boys,'' Jack said.

"I'll be doing everything in my power to get back on the field as quickly as possible. At the moment it doesn't feel too bad but I know I have a bit of a tough road ahead to make sure I get this injury healed."

Swans midfielder Kieren Jack has capped a remarkable transformation from tagger to midfield star by winning the 2010 Bob Skilton Medal.

Swans youngster Kieren Jack is relishing having shed the tagger role in 2010.

"I've played on some really good players in the past and they have shown me a few tricks and how to get the footy," Jack said.

"I think I'm starting to show a bit of that and winning my own footy, which is what the team needs. You want the ball in your hands and [to be] making decisions."

Heath Grundy and Kieren Jack have signed new deals that will keep them at the Sydney Swans until the end of 2013.

"We saw in the last off-season, with the traded players and recruits that we picked up, that there is obviously a bright future ahead of us," Jack said.

"It's going to be sad to see older players like Brett Kirk go, but it's exciting that there is a young group coming through and we want to build a successful future for ourselves."

Teammate Heath Grundy agreed with Jack's assessment of the future of the Swans.

"There are exciting times ahead for the club. Kieren is around my age as well so we've sort of grown up here together, and it's great to know we're both committed to the Swans," he said.

"I took a couple of seasons to get going. It was three or four years before I got a regular game but going into defence has been a good thing for me and I'm really enjoying my footy."

Sydney Swans youngster Kieren Jack became a hero with a late goal to sink West Coast in Saturday night's clash.

"I think Mickey O'Loughlin’s a bit upset; he was free in the goal square apparently. If I had have missed it, I'm sure I would have heard about it," Jack said.

"I didn't think about it. I just picked it up and saw the goals and just kicked it. It was through instinct, I suppose, and that's probably why I missed Mickey O.

"I just had eyes for a goal, so I had to kick it."

Garry Jack's advice to son Kieren has helped him become one of Sydney's most consistent players.

"I'm not going to be a flashy type of outside player, I'm going to be someone who does a job on someone, and hopefully work off them a little bit too," Kieren says.

"I think with my tackling, having come across from rugby league, that whole defensive side of things has probably been a strength of mine, so I'm looking forward to a few more tagging jobs throughout the year."