The Sydney Swans head to Adelaide this Saturday to take on Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval, with coach Scott Gowans making two changes to his side.

Forward Brooke Lochland misses the match with a knee injury sustained in her 50^th AFLW match. She will be replaced in the starting side by Jaide Anthony for her first game this season.

Julie O’Sullivan has been omitted and will be replaced by tall defender Alice Mitchell.

Swans AFLW coach Scott Gowans said Lochland was very close to selection but erred on the side of caution.

“We just decided that with the travel and what’s coming up in the next few weeks in the lead up to our race for finals, it was really important to just get it right,” Gowans said.

It’s a battle between 13^th and 14^th on the AFLW ladder, with Port Adelaide sitting one spot below the Swans.

“We want to get some pace on the footy and hopefully some more forward entries which should equate to a bit more scoring,” Gowans, said.

“They’ll (Port) be really aggressive after their loss to the Eagles and last year they gave us a bit of a lesson in footy and contested ball, so we want to win that stat.”

The much-improved Swans head into the game after a narrow loss to Carlton at Ikon Park last Friday, while the Power went down to West Coast by a goal in Perth.

Swans coach Gowans says while sitting just outside the top 8 matches like this are crucial if they want to feature at the pointy end.

“Pressure is a privilege and its really important to recognise where you are.”

“Hopefully in the not too distant future we’re under that pressure where we are sitting top two, top three, top four – and you’re under immediate pressure then, so you may as well get used to it now while you’re still growing,” Gowans said.

Port Adelaide v Sydney Swans - Round 6
Saturday, October 7, 2023
5:05pm
Alberton Oval

INS: Jaide Anthony, Alice Mitchell
OUTS: Brooke Lochland (knee), Julie O'Sullivan

Find out everything you need to know for Round 6 via our Match Day Hub.