Club profile: Steady as she goes at Swans
THE final edition of the AFL North West preview series is here.
We’ve been looking at men’s and women’s teams ahead of the 2023 season start and we conclude our series today with a club that came oh so close to achieving the ultimate last year.
TAMWORTH SWANS
2022 Results – Mens: Runner-up; Womens: 3rd.
SUMMER TRANSFERS
Mens – In: Lachie Ballard (Narrogin, WA), Wyatt Roberts (Moree). Out: Josh Jones (Holbrook), Adam Cruickshank (Holbrook), Lachlan Bennetts-Inkster (Sydney University), Jack Richards (UNSW Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs), Sam Schirmer (Wagga Tigers), Kyle Snape (Tamworth Kangaroos), Rhett Graham (Tamworth Kangaroos).
Womens – In: Alex Anderson (North Launceston, Tas), Ellie George (ANU Griffins, ACT). Out: Eliza Hand (Killarney Vale), Cassandra Mounter (Lake Wendouree, Vic).
HAVING come so close to reaching the AFL North West’s near insurmountable peak just seven months ago, the Tamworth Swans will have to start the climb again from base camp.
The Swans lost the men’s Grand Final by just six points and the women fell short in the Preliminary Final by the barest of margins.
It will be a tough climb as the club will have to do so without the two reigning League Best & Fairest winners. Eliza Hand was a standout in the women’ competition last year but she will be playing at Killarney Vale in 2023 while runaway Tony Gillies medalist Josh Jones has returned home.
That’s not to say that all is lost at the Swans.
The club has some good young players climbing the ranks and has maintained a good nucleus of the two teams that came oh so close last year.
The Swans have the bye in this weekend’s opening round but will be looking to start the climb with some pep in its step when it hosts a local derby against the Kangaroos in Round 2.
