On September 3 the Sydney Swans AFLW squad will appear at North Sydney Oval for the first time in 2023. As the countdown continues to a Round 1 clash with the GWS Giants, head coach Scott Gowans is already fired up.
“We’re not here to participate, we’re here to win,” Gowans tells Sydney Swans Media.
The inaugural AFLW squad came close to victories on two occasions in 2022, falling to Essendon and Hawthorn by just four points. Gowans admits the performance of his side “just wasn’t good enough” but says a new strategy and new roster of talent is bringing energy to the red and white.
Chloe Molloy, Lucy McEvoy, Laura Gardiner and Hayley Bullas are among the new signees for the Swans, while the club also welcomed four Irish up-and-comers.
Now in week nine of the AFLW pre-season Gowans has seen huge improvement among the playing group.
“These new high-profile recruits have brought an explosiveness in the contest,” he explains.
“If you reflect back last year, we’d win the ball in the contest, but we just didn’t have the power to surge out.
“Now able to get out of contests and then flick into ball movement quickly. Then vice versa, transition into team defence much quicker.”
With just five weeks left of pre-season, Gowans is blocking out any doubt ahead of Round 1 with the club’s mindset firmly on winning – not only games, but a premiership.
“Our focus is clearly on winning grand finals… there’s no point saying we’re going to do it three years’ time. We want to do it now.”
Stay tuned as the head coach reflects the players to watch and what to expect heading into the Swans’ second chapter of the AFLW.
2023 AFLW Memberships are now available! Join today and don the red and white for our first home game at North Sydney Oval on Saturday, 3 September.
