ONE CLUB that will be sweating ever so slightly during the early stages of the AFL Women’s Draft is Sydney, with the Swans in danger of not being able to match one of its talented Academy athletes. The red and whites cleared up the list spots and brought in a readymade tall forward, and now head to the draft needing some luck to go their way.

>> FREE: View the 2025 AFLW Draft Guide

2025 RECORD: 9th (H&A) | 6-6 | 107.5% | Eliminated: Regular Season
2025 PICKS: 18, 28, 46, 65, 83
FUTURE PICKS: ’26 R2 (Sydney), ’26 R4 (Sydney)

LIST CHANGES:

IN
Taylor Smith (trade, Brisbane)

OUT
Giselle Davies (delisted), Kiara Hillier (delisted), Rebecca Privitelli (retired), Maddy Collier (retired), Ruby Sargent-Wilson (delisted)

Sydney was able to stump up enough to bring in Brisbane forward Taylor Smith who adds a much needed presence inside 50. She will compliment the likes of Chloe Molloy and replace the outgoing Rebecca Privitelli who was in and out of the side in her final season. While still ending the Trade Period with a pick in each of the first, second and third rounds, the Swans will need a bit of luck to go their way to bring in the players they want.

FIRST PICK:
Pick 18

A bid on super athlete Alex Neyland is expected to come very early, potentially in the top three selections. Fortunately the Swans have the draft capital to match that bid, though back-to-back bids on a Kiera Yerbury – a late invite to draft night – would be a nightmare for the Harbour City side given the next pick is not until 28. They would need the bid to drop outside the top 10 in order to have a chance, so will no doubt have a heart rate monitor attached throughout the early stages.

Neyland is just a must-match given her elite athletic traits and upside. The way she glides through the air, clunks contested marks and can play at both ends of the ground is just superb. While still having to work on ironing out her kicking, most other aspects of her game she is up there with the best in the draft, and the Swans would be licking their lips being able to add a prestigious talent like Neyland to the list.

REMAINING CROP:
Picks 28, 46, 65

The Swans ran themselves into a bit of trouble without the extra insurance of at least an additional second round selection with both Yerbury and athletic ruck Madeleine Quinn likely to receive bids in the first 25 picks. Yerbury as mentioned could be as high as the top three with the Giants looking to retain local talent and the Crows also keen on the explosive midfielder. If lucky, both might avoid the bid and Adelaide does it with its selection in the teens, which would enable the Swans to match.

However that means with Pick 28 wiped out, the same nervous wait will depend on Quinn. There’s every chance she still receives a bid before Yerbury if a team needing a ruck is willing to throw one down during the same region. It leaves the Swans needing to weigh up a whole heap of scenarios in what could go down. In a perfect world, Yerbury does not receive a bid until the teens, and Quinn slides to later in the second round which would give the Swans the ability to match all three.

Even if the Swans match all three, they still have a fourth list spot available, whether or not they take it or opt to head to the Preseason Draft instead. Late in the draft they could identify Isla Wiencke as a readymade prospect from their cross-town rival’s Academy. Otherwise a few more athletic talents include Ashleigh Thatcher, Sophie Thredgold and Baia Pugh all of whom can further improve areas of their game.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– Will the Swans be able to match all three of their Draft Combine Academy athletes?
– If the above answer is ‘no’, which two will they prioritise?
– Do the Swans look to bring in a developing prospect later in the draft, or wait for the Preseason Draft?