TOO SMALL, not enough skills, never going to make it – Sydney Swans midfielder Kieren Jack heard it all growing up.
Accompanying all the criticism and the scepticism was the fact he was the son of a rugby league great, Garry Jack.
Living in league-mad western Sydney, the offspring of a Balmain, NSW and Australian fullback, surely he should have been trying to make it in the 13-man code?
But Jack ignored it all, put his head down and set about becoming the best footballer possible.
And it has resulted in him being named a co-captain of the Sydney Swans alongside Jarrad McVeigh, replacing arguably the club's greatest ever player, Adam Goodes.
"It's a club that's meant a lot to me. It's the reason why I began to play AFL footy," Jack said.
"Watching guys like Paul Kelly running around is why I originally got started into the game.
"To then get picked up by them was very special and this is a huge honour.
"Not many people get to play for the club they grew up barracking for, but to be co-captain is even more special."
Prior to getting his opportunity via the 2005 rookie draft, Jack played with the Pennant Hills Demons, a club that also spawned McVeigh and his Mark and St Kilda's Lenny Hayes.
Playing senior footy at the age of 18 against blokes twice his size and age, the traits began to emerge that would set Jack on his unlikely path to AFL stardom.
"I'd use the word tenacious," Pennant Hills head coach Chris Yard, who has been involved in the club for 22 years, told AFL.com.au.
"He was a tenacious fellow and quite driven for a guy that was probably rumoured to be a little bit small for AFL football.
"He was very quick and hard at the ball and just a genuine kid.
"He wasn't a kid that thought the sun shone out of his backside. He was a guy that could get along with everyone.
"He was always driven to getting to the highest level that he could."
John Longmire jokes now that he always knew Jack would make it, but he has previously admitted he was among the doubters when the slight, skinny kid with the famous dad arrived.
But there was an inner belief and hunger driving Jack on.
"When he first came to the club, what really stood out was his absolute determination to be the best player he could be," Longmire said.
"There were some people that weren't so convinced in that, but to his credit he's just worked really hard.
"Kieren has grown as a leader and I'm sure will continue to grow."
Once his own place in the side was secure, Jack set about helping his teammates.
Lewis Jetta was virtually tethered to Jack this time last year and responded with an excellent pre-season, leading to a break-out year when he led the club's goalkicking and was vital to their charge to the flag.
Following in the footsteps of former Swans captains like Kelly, Brett Kirk and Craig Bolton, Jack understands hard work is the key to his ongoing development.
Initially a run-with player, Jack is now an attacking weapon, registering 27 goals last season, including two in the Grand Final victory over Hawthorn.
A career that had such trouble getting started has now resulted in a 2010 best and fairest award, a place in last year's 40-man All Australian squad and a premiership.
But the past offers little interest to the 25-year-old.
"I don't look too far back at all," he said.
"This year is a new year and we're trying to get better and I'm trying to get better as a player.
"I haven't paid any attention to what anyone has said in the past, negatively or anything like that, it's about me trying to drive myself to be the best and also now driving the rest of the group to achieve that as well."
James Dampney is a reporter for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD
