The Sydney Swans AFLW side are back on the road this week to face the Western Bulldogs in Melbourne. Senior coach Scott Gowans appeared in front of journalists on Tuesday, October 17, to discuss improvements leading into the Round 8 clash.

On the Round 7 loss

“We’ve taken the approach that every team is going to come at us. We were slightly off with our work rate and intensity on the weekend and Hawthorn were on another level. The big fix for us is to bring effort and intensity and play our way. Hawthorn planned really well and were able to shut our ball movement down.”

On what needs to be improved on

“We’re concentrating on different things week by week but our philosophy is the road to continual success. We want our down weeks to be not so down, and our up weeks to be not so up. That’s not how elite sport works but it’s our mindset. For instance, with post-clearances last week we really dipped in that are. We were pretty good for a few weeks, even in the loss to Carlton. It’s a matter of our brand, our way. If you look at our own contested game, it was way too high, it’s not sustainable. What we talked about last night was the why, how that can happen and what we can do to change it if it happens during a game. Hopefully we can put some mechanisms in place to change on the ground with our leaders.”

On this week’s away game

“It’s women on a mission this week. We’ll get the group together and try a few different things. We’ll make a couple of changes to the side as well when we go through match committee tomorrow to try and play a certain way. I’m excited. I can’t wait.”

On Brooke Lochland

“She’s a test this week. She got through scrimmage really well and pulled up really well. She has to get through training this week and her hand will be in the air for selection at match committee.”

On the injury list after Round 7

“Aimee Whelan is okay. Everyone is fine. The main thing for us is there was a few bruised egos. Some players felt they weren’t at a level to be ready to perform. I like that because it’s a great learning for us - we’re on a journey. How do you respond when something in your control doesn’t work?”

On scoreboard pressure

“We were putting the ball into spots we don’t want to put the ball. Our forward structure is based around a system that involved midfielders as well and we like to get the ball flowing. Any time we get held up we do the complete opposite, and on the weekend whether it was scoreboard pressure, Hawthorn’s pressure, we let ourselves down in that area. We just didn’t get value for our inside 50s. It’s an easy fix when we reviewed it.”

On Rebecca Prvitelli leading marks inside 50

“It’s personal growth definitely. She’s very honest with where she is at as a football, she’s striving to achieve consistency in her game. In previous seasons with Priv she would try to mark the ball but also bring the ball down. In my opinion, as a key forward, you have to go to the ball nice and hard so if it does come off your hands with distance, it gives our smalls an opportunity."

On the Rebecca’s leadership

“When Chloe and Lucy came into the squad there was no conversation about captaincy or leadership, it was about their footy IQ and talent. We discussed it with our leadership group from last year - Priv was one of those -  and she could not be more supportive. She’s been terrific, she’s the loudest voice in the forward line, instructs other, sets up stoppages, she’s been elite this year.”

The team will return to Henson Park in Round 9 for the final home game of the 2023 season. Get in early and purchase tickets to the clash below.