In 2022 Tanya Hetherington announced her retirement from the AFLW competition after 46 games with the GWS Giants. The experienced defender has returned to the sport in 2023 to join the Sydney Swans as a line coach under Scott Gowans and Nick Davis and helped lead the women's side to a maiden finals series.

She also joins the QBE Sydney Swans Academy as an assistant coach for the female program.