Sydney has unveiled two debutants ahead of its Round 1 match against Brisbane on Saturday. Senior coach Dean Cox revealed on Thursday defenders Riley Bice and Joel Hamling would play their first games in the red and white.

New recruit Bice will make his AFL debut after he was taken by Sydney in last year's AFL Draft with pick 41.

The 24-year old arrived at the Harbour City following a strong VFL campaign with the Werribee Football Club which included a Premiership and selection in the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Team of the Year.

Hamling will make his Swans debut following a collective 12 seasons with the Geelong Cats, Western Bulldogs, and Fremantle.

The 31-year-old joined the red and white as an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2023 trade period after 91 career games including a Premiership with the Western Bulldogs in 2016.

Speaking to Sydney Swans Media, Cox said he was thrilled to blood another two debutants early in the season.

"It's really exciting for the footy club to have a mature-aged recruit to come in and play the second game after his first pre-season, it's a really good effort," Cox said.

"He's got some real dash and uses the ball really well so hopefully he can set us up for some attacking moves and also defend really well when he has to.

"And Joel, he's been at a couple of footy clubs and he's waited a long time for this opportunity at the Swans.

"The work he put in last year and through the off-season, we know what he can do behind the ball which is really important for us, we know that Brisbane play some talls and some real marking threats ahead of the ball so hopefully he fits in really well."

Taylor Adams will miss the match after injuring his hamstring in the Opening Round clash with Hawthorn, while fellow midfielder Angus Sheldrick has been omitted and named as an emergency. 

Peter Ladhams and Caleb Mitchell round out the emergency list. 

Cox is preparing for a strong Brisbane outfit and said the side was looking forward to the challenge. 

"Firstly, we have to be fierce around the contest, that's where they have been really strong for a number of years, they're a really high front-half team, very similar to Hawthorn," Cox said.

"They're strong around the clearance and they play a really strong front-half game, they try and pin it in there with some really good intercepting defenders as well.

"They're a really good team, one we're really excited to play against, you want to test yourself against the best and this is the best team at the moment."

The AFL has confirmed the heat policy and longer quarter breaks will be enacted for Saturday's match. Quarter-time and three-quarter time breaks will be extended by two minutes, from six to eight and extra water carriers will also be allowed throughout the match.

Sydney hosts Brisbane at the SCG on Saturday at 4:15pm. Back by popular demand, the team will march from Sydney Swans HQ to the stadium from 3:15pm. For more information on attending Round 1, visit the Match Day Hub here.