James Rowbottom admits that the end to the 2024 AFL season was a sour one. But as he looks back in an end-of-season interview with Sydney Swans Media, it’s hard not to reflect on the special and sometimes, historic moments of the club’s 150th season.  

“I think our year in a whole was incredible. There are very fond memories of a packed SCG and big wins and close wins and some losses…” Rowbottom shared.   

“It’s obviously a disappointing end to the season, but what we were able to produce this year was something pretty special.” 

Off the field the club celebrated a record membership count of 75,057 members with more than 500,000 people welcomed into the SCG. On the field Rowbottom also enjoyed one of his best seasons to-date.  

He led the tackle count across the league this season with 186, earned his first Brownlow Medal votes in three games, played his 100th career match and re-signed with the Swans for another four years.

But when the 24-year-old looks back on the season, a highlight is of that shared with his teammates.  

“I don't know if it's a bit of recency bias, but the qualifying final this year was impressive. It was probably as loud a crowd as we've had up here in Sydney and to go through to a home preliminary was awesome.” 

The midfielder is already focussing on his seventh pre-season. Striking a balance is his biggest focus in the off-season.   

“[The goal is to] come back in better condition... You want to be fitter and stronger and ready to go for another season and improve,” he said. 

“And without pushing yourself over the edge, which I've done so in the past and get a bit run down before preseason even starts. You get your program right and get sorted and get ready to go.”  

The AFL squad will return to pre-season training in late November-early December.