SYDNEY managed to keep three homegrown Academy prospects despite having to let one go to crosstown rivals, GWS. The Swans had three top 20 talents within their ranks, and while Kiera Yerbury was the one left out of the three with only two possible bid matches, Sydney addressed a couple of key position spots, as well as a developing midfielder-forward.

>> EVERY PICK: National Draft
>> 100+ PROFILES: View the 2025 AFLW Draft Guide

DRAFT HAUL

Pick 6. Alex Neyland
Pick 18. Madeleine Quinn
Pick 47. Molly Thomas

>> CLICK each player’s names for full profiles & highlights

Sydney entered the AFLW Draft hoping to secure all three of Neyland, Quinn and Yerbury, but when mail came in that Yerbury’s bid was going to be far higher than anticipated, the Swans had to make the tough decision to let her go to the Giants. Instead, they opted for Thomas with the late selection, and still brought in three talented Swans to the program.

Neyland is a player who could be anything. Her elite athleticism and defensive pressure stands out, and she is capable of getting it done up either end of the field. She really looked good playing for the Swans at the start of the season coming off an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and bolted up all the way into a top 10 lock. The bid came at six after Yerbury’s, which is why the Swans had to let the midfielder go in order to match the tall star.

Speaking of tall stars, not many come taller than the 187cm Quinn who is a super athletic ruck. She can also play forward, but works well around the ground and has been developing her skills nicely, with her follow-up work and clean hands very good. A strong target for AFL Sydney club UTS Bats, Quinn is an imposing figure and while still developing more strength to compete against AFLW bodies, has a lot talent and enormous upside.

Thomas was the surprise packet of the Swans’ draft, taken with Pick 47. Though she did not receive a Draft Combine invite, Thomas is a smooth-moving left-footer who can play both in the middle or off half-forward. As she develops her game, the clean and smart decision maker will become more well-rounded.

GRADE: B

In a perfect world, the Swans would have loved to have enough draft capital to be flexible with any bids that came in, but will still be thrilled to welcome in the three new players they did. Neyland and Quinn meet clear positional needs, while Thomas has some exciting traits that can be developed for the future in whatever role she ends up in.