Final preparations are on for the Sydney Swans’ road matchup against the Brisbane Lions on Sunday.
A bench of eight players has been selected in advance of the game, and the final squad will be announced at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Julie O’Sullivan and Laura Gardiner are among the additions; they were tested for the weekend following injuries they sustained in Round 7 and Round 6B, respectively.
Young guns Co-captain Lucy McEvoy, Sofia Hurley, and Montana Ham are all listed in the squad. When facing the defending premiers, AFLW senior coach Scott Gowans will want to field his strongest team. With just two losses this season, the Lions are predicted to be formidable at Brighton Homes Arena, their home field.
Gowans says his team will want to play the game head-on during his weekly press conference. “From our point of view, we expect to win, and we’ve adopted the stance that it’s just another challenge,” he stated. “Not only is it their home field, but it’s also a fantastic chance to learn from the game that you’ll get from playing the Premier. We simply go up there full of hope because we have nothing to lose.
‘Spirit Strong, Game On’ is this year’s theme for the 2024 NAB AFLW season, which also recognizes Indigenous Round in Rounds 9 and 10. It honors the resilience, important contributions, and influence on the game of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
To commemorate the event, Lua Pellegrini created a new Marn Grook guernsey, which the team will wear as they run out. Being the first artist to design a Marn Grook guernsey for both Swans teams, she created the one worn by the men’s Sydney Swans team in 2022 and 2023.
In Round 10 of the season, the team will play the West Coast Eagles at home to finish the season. On Saturday, November 2 at 3:05 p.m., the club will commemorate Indigenous Round at Henson Park in the center of Marrickville.
