The Sydney Swans are pleased to announce the appointment of Kate Mahony as Executive General Manager - AFLW. 

Mahony is the first in a series of key appointments to be made in preparation for the club’s inaugural AFLW season. 

Mahony brings extensive experience as a leader in high performance sport at national and international level and has held numerous leadership roles in women’s sport.

A qualified sports physiotherapist, Mahony joins the Swans from the NSW Institute of Sport where she is currently Head of Performance Health. 

Mahony’s experience in women’s sport includes previous roles as Sports Science and Medicine Lead for the Australian women’s cricket team and Sports Physiotherapist and Tournament Lead for the Australian Open and Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). 

Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley said he was thrilled to have Mahony leading the Swans AFLW program. 

“We are very excited to have someone of Kate’s calibre leading our AFLW program into its inaugural season,” he said. 

“With Kate’s knowledge of the national sporting landscape, her extensive experience in high performance sport and particularly her expertise in women’s sport, our program is in unbelievably strong hands. 

“We are committed to our inaugural AFLW team having every chance of success when they take the field in late 2022 and I am confident Kate’s appointment will help ensure that is the case,” Harley said. 

In addition to her AFLW role, Mahony will also work with the QBE Sydney Swans boys and girls Academy to build high performance capabilities.

Mahony said she was excited to lead the AFLW program into its inaugural season. 

“It is a really unique opportunity to be there from the start and set the foundations for an elite, high performing AFLW program,” Mahony said. 

“I am passionate about women’s sport and incredibly excited for the challenge of helping build an AFLW program and culture that supports athletes reach their potential and perform at their very best.  

“AFLW has been a game changer for women’s sport and there is clearly great excitement building around the Swans inaugural AFLW season. We want to build a successful team that inspires the next generation of female footballers and athletes in New South Wales.  

“There is plenty of work to be done before that first game and I am very much looking forward to getting started,” she said.  

Mahony will commence her role with the Swans in December. 

With the Swans to enter AFLW for Season 7, commencing in late 2022, Swans CEO Tom Harley said early support for the program had been extraordinarily strong. 

“Within weeks of launching our AFLW foundation memberships, we have had more than 3000 fans sign up, many of them new to the club,” Harley said. 

“Right across the Swans community, there is great excitement about our journey into AFLW, from our members, fans, players, staff and corporate partners, the momentum is really building.”

“We can’t wait to be part of it,” he said.