Ben Mathews returns to the Sydney Swans as an assistant coach for the 2021 season following a stellar playing career with the club between 1997-2008.

Mathews played 198 games for the Swans and was part of the club’s historic premiership triumph in 2005 under coach Paul Roos.

The hard-running midfielder/defender came from Corowa-Rutherglen to the Swans as a zone selection in the 1995 AFL Draft before earning his senior debut against the West Coast Eagles in Round 16, 1997. He kicked 45 goals across his 11 seasons at the club.

After retiring at the end of the 2008 campaign, he served as development coach to the Gold Coast Suns in 2012 before reuniting with Roos at Melbourne Football Club as a midfield coach from September 2013.

Mathews will be now be responsible for the development of the club’s backline with a major focus on the team’s defensive strategies in 2021.