SYDNEY Swans Academy are coming off a successful NSW/ACT Under 22 Women’s Summer Series and have a weekend off before commencing the 2026 Talent League Girls competition. The Swans face the side they beat on the last day of the series on the first day of the Talent League in the GWS Giants Academy and will be heavily favoured to secure a second straight win over their state-based rivals.

LAST SEASON

Played: 4
Wins: 2
Losses: 2

The Swans Academy finished its 2025 campaign with an even slate, having accounted for the Tasmania Devils in Blacktown by 41 points, and producing an equally impressive seven-goal win over GWV Rebels in Craigieburn. The Swans then went down to the reigning grand finalists in Eastern Ranges and Oakleigh Chargers, the former of whom would go on to win the 2025 flag.

FIXTURE

Round 1: vs. GWS Giants Academy | March 28 @ Margaret Donoghoe Sportsground
Round 2: vs. Gold Coast Suns Academy | April 11 @ Blackdown International Sportspark
Round 3: vs. Brisbane Lions Academy | April 19 @ Brighton Homes Arena
Round 4: vs. Tasmania Devils | April 25 @ Blacktown International Sportspark
Round 5: vs. Oakleigh Chargers | May 2 @ TBA
Round 6: vs. Eastern Ranges | May 9 @ Kennedy Community Centre
Round 7: vs. Geelong Falcons | May 16 @ TBA

The Swans face off against the other three Northern Academy sides as well as Tasmania Devils across the first month, enabling Allies staff to pick an accurate squad for the 2026 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. Rematches against Oakleigh and Eastern follow, before taking on Geelong Falcons in an extended seven-game schedule that takes the side until mid-May.

KEY PLAYERS

Sydney Swans will be headlined by speedster Charlotte Tidemann from an AFLW Draft perspective, with the North Shore Bombers premiership player looking to go to another level in 2026. Able to play wing, half-back or in the middle, Tidemann has a brilliant rounded athletic game with slick skills.

Unfortunately the Swans will be minus Grace Tracey for the season after another heartbreaking anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Tracey missed 2024 due to the injury, returned last year and had a huge season and made the National Academy, but will unfortunately sit out her top-age season.

Watch out for Evie Bowie who looms as a key prospect through the middle and rotating forward, no doubt switching with AFL Sydney Women’s Rising Star, Heidi de Saxe. While de Saxe missed the last two games of the summer series with an ankle injury, expect her to return at some point and really show her toughness and smarts.

Aurelia Russell had an outstanding summer series and coming from the Hunter Central Coast looks set to be a breakout player who coulpd rise up draft boards. Though only 160cm, she has similar traits to Tidemann and will no doubt have some eye-catching moments. The same could be said for Emma Haley who is yet another one in that mid-forward rotation.

The Swans have no shortage of talls up forward too, with father-daughter Jordan Davis and fellow top-ager Ava Horneman, as well as bottom-ager, Lolita Savala. Up the other end, Ashleigh Barlow was particularly impressive on the last line, shutting down key Giants player Majella Day.

PRE-SEASON DRAFT HOPES

With the introduction of the new AFLW Preseason Draft set to take place on May 4, it means previous draft eligible players will have a second shot at reaching the top level. The Swans have a few, but the two biggest names – quite literally – are ruck Amaia Wain and forward/ruck Grace Parsons.

Wain simply dominated the summer series with her ruck work, boasting a vertical jump that was unbeatable for a lot of her less-athletic opponents. But she also showed terrific follow-up work and was willing to lay a tackle or go for a disposal after the initial touch which was key.

Parsons was close to making it last year as a reliable deadeye kick on goal and playing in North Shore’s premiership side. The 180cm talent will be looking for greater consistency and four-quarter impact while building her strength, but she has the potential to be a really good long-term key forward.

SUMMARY

Sydney Swans Academy certainly has a lot of talent and will be an Academy to watch in 2026. Brisbane Lions Academy will likely lay claim to the most draftable prospects heading into the year, but the Swans are not a one-year group with the talent and depth of the side very impressive. One would expect them to knock over the Giants, Suns and Devils at the least, and would be a good shot against the Falcons. The big challenges will come against the Lions, Chargers and Ranges. The extended season is great for the team’s exposure to the Talent League Girls competition.