The Sydney Swans AFLW side is back on home soil this week for a Saturday afternoon clash with Hawthorn. The team is in contention for a spot in the top eight after recording three wins, with this week's match important in developing the team's connection for the final rounds.

Assistant coach Tanya Hetherington reflects on the latest win over Port Adelaide and discusses preparations ahead of Round 7 in Tanya's Take, presented by Bird in Hand.

Congratulations on the win over Port Adelaide. What was the message to players ahead of the game?

We just wanted to focus on us leading into the Port Adelaide game. There were a few things during the week we spent time on including our connection between lines and you could see that in this game coming together. It was pleasing to see the girls play more of a four-quarter game and finish strong. 

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AFLW Highlights: Port Adelaide v Sydney

The Power and Swans clash in round six of the 2023 NAB AFLW Season

Who stood out to you in Round 6?

I think the best aspect of the win was that it was such an even performance across the board. Someone who really stood up and played to their trademark was Cynthia Hamilton. She was aggressive and took her chances in front of a goal, so it was nice to see her get some reward for effort.

 
How important is the confidence from last week’s win going into Saturday’s clash over Hawthorn?

Confidence can never be underestimated, especially with such a young group. Not only getting the win, but getting the first win on the road will give the team a lot of confidence that no matter where or when they play, they can compete with anyone, so it will only benefit the group leading into this weekend’s game. 

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 07: Cynthia Hamilton and Sofia Hurley of the Swans celebrate a goal during the 2023 AFLW Round 06 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Sydney Swans at Alberton Oval on October 07, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos)

What have you made of the Hawks season so far?

The Hawks, like us have made steady improvements this season. They’ve brought in some elite talent from other teams and have been putting together some consistent performances across the season. 

What are you looking to focus on in Round 7?

We will be trying to build on last week’s performance and step it up another level. We want to play a brand of football that makes our fans proud and is fun to watch. We are looking forward to putting together another four-quarter performance in front of our home crowd this weekend.