Less than one month remains until Dean Cox steps out onto the SCG as senior coach.

As the Sydney Swans prepare for Opening Round against Hawthorn, the former West Coast ruckman says he’s continuing his leadership both on and off the field.

Speaking on SEN’s Mornings with Matt White, Cox said moving to Sydney was the catalyst for his coaching development.

“The best decision I made for coaching was to move to Sydney,” Cox said.

“The best thing about John Longmire and the footy club is they were open all the way through to develop people underneath.”

Cox spent seven years as assistant coach under Longmire – the club’s longest serving coach – before he stepped into the leadership role in November 2024. He joined the Sydney Swans coaching panel at the end of 2017, following a playing and coaching career spanning 17 years in his home state of Western Australia.

“I got [a development] opportunity the last few years. Running programs, going to drafts, presenting to the board and John was really open to all of that. That made it really easy to be as ready as it possibly could be when the time did come.”

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Press Conference: John Longmire steps down as senior coach

Hear from John Longmire, Andrew Pridham and newly appointed senior coach Dean Cox.

Cox admitted that the role arrived sooner than expected. His first order of business was an honest discussion with the playing group.

“[The group] understand what makes me tick, but I wanted to let them know the decisions now that I make and where they're coming from.

“When you're an assistant coach, you can throw up ideas… and have no consequence or you don't have to answer for it exactly. Certainly, once I took over the position, it's now about making the decisions and actioning everything.”

Now in his third month in the position Cox is crafting his plan for the 2025 AFL season. One intention is to utilise more of the playing squad and develop young emerging talent.

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In 2024 two players made their AFL debut, QBE Sydney Swans Academy product Caiden Cleary and 2022 draftee Caleb Mitchell. In total 31 players appeared at the senior level, a number Cox wants to increase this upcoming season.

“We've had a few (players) that have had interrupted pre-seasons, but that creates opportunity for some younger players. Those younger players have trained really well.”

The players to watch this season?

“Corey Warner has had a really strong pre-season. We'll get some real opportunity in the first couple of practice games that we do play to put his best foot forward,” Cox said.

“Angus Sheldrick, who's been a midfielder in and out of the team, has suffered a lot of injuries. He's had a really good pre-season.”

The Swans will play the GWS Giants in match simulation at Tramway Oval on Friday, February 21 from 10:00am. The squad will then travel to Queensland for a 2025 AAMI Community Series clash with the Gold Coast Suns on Friday, February 28.

Find out more about our pre-season matches, HERE.