The Sydney Swans will travel to Melbourne this week to face Carlton in Round 5. Senior Coach Scott Gowans has named his side with Montana Ham and Alana Woodward coming into the side that defeated the Eagles last week.

Ham returns to the team after being managed with a foot injury, which saw her sit out of the opening two rounds. She made an appearance in Round 3 against the Brisbane Lions, however left the field at half time. 

The young star will be an important target in the forward 50, something the team has been looking to improve in recent weeks. 

“She’ll make a big difference. In the minutes we saw her the week before last she kicked a goal and got us some metres gained which is really critical," Gowans told Swans TV.

2022 AFLW Leadership group member Alana Woodward also comes into the team for her first game of this season, adding experience to the Swans backline against a dangerous Blues contingent.

“We found that we needed a better balance this week going into Carlton," Gowans added.

"It’s not about when you win you keep stability, we think a couple of changes will help us do what we need to do at IKON Park on the weekend."

The Swans will go into Friday afternoon's match with confidence after a pre-season win over Carlton and a Round 4 win against the West Coast Eagles. While the momentum will prove valuable to the red and white, Gowans says the team has plenty of room to improve.  

“Carlton have a big ground and are a really established side that have performed really well this season," he said. 

"We have to bring the pressure and try turn that ball over as early as we can.”

Round 5 marks 50 games for AFLW veteran Brooke Lochland. A premiership player and AFLW All Australian, Lochland was drafted in 2016 and played five seasons for the Western Bulldogs before joining the Sydney Swans last season and was one of the inaugural team's co-captain.

Speaking in a press conference on Wednesday Lochland told journalists what a proud moment it is for her to notch her half century.

"It has taken me eight seasons to get here," Lochland said. 

"It is definitely something I will celebrate and make the most of this week."

Following this week's trip to Melbourne, it's another week on the road for the Swans in Round 6, facing Port Adelaide at Alberton, before returning to Henson Park in Round 7. 

Carlton v Sydney Swans - Round 5
Friday, September 28 2023
4:05pm
IKON Park

INS: Montana Ham, Alana Woodward
OUTS: Paris McCarthy (omitted), Alice Mitchell (omitted)

Find out everything you need to know for Round 5 via our Match Day Hub.