The Sydney Swans will kick off their 2025 VFL season this weekend in Melbourne and will do so with new coach Jarrad McVeigh in charge and will also have a new skipper.
25-year old Nick Shipley has been appointed Sydney's Captain for the 2025 VFL season and will lead the team out for their first fixture against Collingwood this Saturday in Melbourne.
Shipley has spent the last three seasons at the Swans and suited up for 49 VFL games across stints at both GWS and Sydney.
The 25-year-old was drafted to the Giants in 2017 and played six games at AFL level, before signing with the Swans VFL side ahead of 2022 season.
Shipley said he was excited by the opportunity to lead the side.
"We haven't generally had a standalone captain in the Swans VFL since I've been here over the last couple of years, we've just been sharing it around week to week," Shipley said.
"It's the first time I've ever been a captain, so it's an amazing honour to be named Captain for the VFL boys and I'm looking forward to it.
"We have a lot of younger boys on our list that finish with the QBE Sydney Swans Academy or they're coming from the under 18s and I just want to make all the boys feel welcome and confident when they step out on the field on game day."
Shipley is a tough, big-bodied inside midfielder who excels at stoppages and has clean hands.
"I like to think I bring competitiveness and a lot of relentless pressure, I chase after the footy and opposition and do everything I can to win the ball and get it going forward for us," Shipley said.
"That's probably what I like to think my style is, just winning the hard and loose balls, I'm really competitive."
The Swans VFL side finished their last campaign with eight wins, nine losses and a draw.
Shipley said the team was aiming for a strong season in 2025.
"The AFL boys were obviously super competitive and a grand finalist last year, so we want to make the VFL team just as competitive," Shipley said.
"We want to make sure that when those AFL boys come into our team, we win games and they play good footy so when they transition into the AFL, it'll be seamless for them."
Shipley will notch his 50th VFL game in Round 1 when Sydney takes on Collingwood at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon.
After a long pre-season, Shipley said he was keen to get the season underway.
"I'm really looking forward to taking on Collingwood, I just want to get the season started," Shipley said.
"Obviously, the AFL has already got a couple games in, so I'm really looking forward to Round 1 this Saturday so we can get our season underway and hopefully get a win on the board and go from there."
You can watch the Swans take on Collingwood live on AFL.com.au.
Follow the Sydney Swans VFL team on Instagram.
