Plenty more kids in the SCG stands will know exactly who’s sporting the Sydney Swans’ number 10 guernsey on Friday night than when Zak Jones first set foot on the famous ground in 2014.

In fact there’s every chance young Swans fans will be squealing out for the speedster’s signature if Sydney trumps the Adelaide Crows in its first home clash of the season.

When the born-and-bred Victorian landed at the Swans via their first-round selection at the 2013 AFL Draft, he was startled when continually being asked at school visits if he scored touchdowns.

But five years on, Jones – after countless school appearances, visits to junior footy clubs, player-run SCG clinics and the annual Sydney Fan Day, presented by Volkswagen – says the NSW youngsters don’t miss a beat.

“I can 100 per cent see footy is growing in Sydney and NSW,” Jones told Melbourne radio station SEN.

“When I first got up here I went to a school and there were multiple kids saying, ‘Do you score touchdowns?’ And I was very confused being a Melbourne boy. I was thinking, ‘What do you mean? AFL is the greatest sport ever’.

“But now we go to clinics and kids know who you are, they’re engaged and they want to be involved.

“It’s not only boys; there are a lot more girls getting down to our clinics these days.

“It’s amazing to see that NSW has put in such a huge effort." 

If Sydney rolls out the same 22 on Friday as it did for Saturday’s opening-round showdown with the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium, six New South Welshmen will face Adelaide.

Jarrad McVeigh (Central Coast), Dane Rampe (Sydney), Isaac Heeney (Newcastle), Callum Mills (Sydney), Harry Cunningham (Wagga Wagga) and Nick Blakey (Sydney) all proudly hail from NSW.

Kieren Jack (Sydney), Sam Naismith (Tamworth), James Bell (Shellharbour) and Sam Wicks (Sydney) also call NSW home, meaning 22 per cent of the Swans’ list are NSW locals.

Friday’s duel with the Crows could see Jones combine forces with New South Welshmen McVeigh and Rampe in defence, and Heeney, Mills and Cunningham if injected into the midfield.

And Jones says Sydney expects a fierce Adelaide outfit to enter the NSW home of the Swans.

“They’re going to come out firing, it’s going to be a great contest straight away and it’ll be a battle of the midfield,” Jones said.

“They didn’t play the way they wanted to play on the weekend, and it was the same for us, so both clubs will be looking to bounce back.”