SEASON 7 of the AFLW is not too far away, and season seven will see four new teams come into the competition to finally see the AFLW have all 18 teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are going to take a deep dive into each of the new clubs\u2019 inaugural lists and see how they might stack up in their inaugural season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today it is last but not least Sydney<\/a> under the microscope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please note that these calculations have all been done with several players included across multiple positions, and does include rookie Tiarne Cavanagh<\/strong> but not Alice Mitchell<\/a>, who will miss Season 7 due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike the other clubs coming in, the Swans have gone midfielder heavy with their inaugural list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are 15 players on Sydney’s list who can play as a midfielder – that is half the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, that does include several players who can play in other roles, such as Molly Eastman<\/a>, Cynthia Hamilton<\/a>, Ruby Sargent-Wilson<\/a> and Lauren Szigeti<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For context, this compares to eight potential defenders, two rucks, and seven potential forwards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing you realise when taking a look at Sydney’s potential defenders is that most are very young, and only two of them have any AFLW experience – Maddy Collier<\/a> and Brenna Tarrant<\/a>. Collier is also the only defender over the age of 25. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, some of the state league defenders they have brought in do have experience that may be handy for a young list which although is not the same as AFLW level experience is still helpful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gena Lawson-Tavan<\/a> has been playing footy for a long time now, and has come through the very successful Darebin Falcons program and has also had to deal with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows that footy can bring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Eliza Vale<\/a> is another who had to face tricky situations as a footballer this year, so will be able to keep morale high if need be. Molly Eastman<\/a> is another who has leadership experience, having been captain of North Melbourne’s VFLW side this season and also spent time at the Falcons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Collier and Tarrant have had trouble in the past keeping their spot in the side at their old clubs, so they find themselves in a very different situation at the Swans. It will not be surprising to see them really flourish at the Swans as the certainty around their spot in the side grows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n By far the largest percentage of the list, the Swans are certainly not short on options when it comes to midfielders. However, with that large number does not come with a whole lot of experience. They may be a talented group – with three of them being Sydney’s top three draftees this year – but experience is also crucial, especially in an inaugural season. The midfield experience is largely concentrated in Sarah Dargan<\/a> and to a lesser extent Lisa Steane<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Swans’ ruck department may be young (18 and 21) but unlike the other expansion sides, all of their rucks have AFLW experience. Ally Morphett<\/a> may only have seven games under her belt and Alexia Hamilton<\/a> may only have three games, but compared to the ruck departments of the three other sides coming in, that is quite a bit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Morphett is likely to be the first choice ruck, and after slowly taking more of the ruck duties at GWS, expect her to flourish with the increased chances at the Swans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The one thing that can describe the Swans forward line is that they were able to get some really experienced faces in, which they were not necessarily able to do in other positions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact their two most experienced players on the whole list – Brooke Lochland<\/a> and Aliesha Newman<\/a> – are both forwards, with Rebecca Privitelli<\/a> also among the Swans forward cohort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nList make-up by position<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Defenders – young with experience concentrated in a few<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Midfielders – plentiful yet inexperienced<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rucks – young, but actually have experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Forwards – bucking the trends of the rest of the list <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The real unknowns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n