Aspiring Swans AFLW players will have a big chance to stake their claim for a spot on the senior list during the upcoming Female Winter Series.
Members of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy's Open squad and Futures Squad will play in the elite series which runs from May to July.
The Opens squad features the Academy's best female players aged from 18 to 21, while the Futures squad is a development group made up of talented 16 and 17-year-old girls.
The Opens will play a five-game series against teams from the Northern Territory, Tasmania and the GWS Giants.
Four of the five games will be played at the iconic North Sydney Oval and Swans fans are encouraged to get along to watch the next generation of emerging and draft age talent in action.
The Futures Squad will take part in three games against the Giants. Younger developing Academy players will also have the chance to push for selection in those games.
Both teams will train twice a week from May to July at North Sydney Oval under the scrutiny of Swans coaches.
It's the first time the Winter Series has been held, and it will be a crucial part of the selection process for the Swans AFLW team which will join the AFLW competition later this year.
Academy Head, Chris Smith, said the next few months would be super important for the young players who want to make it to the Swans AFLW side.
"There are so many players who tell me how passionate and excited they are about the prospect of playing AFLW,'' Smith said.
"Now we want them to prove how committed and driven they are with their actions on the field, both during games and at training. Making it to the AFLW will require a huge level of dedication.
"The Winter Series is the opportunity for those young women to put their hand up and say, 'I really want to be part of this','' said Smith.
Swans AFLW Head Coach Scott Gowans will keep a close eye on the players, and the Opens team will be coached by Baker Denneman who is also an assistant to Gowans in the senior program.
Brownyn Gulden, who is a development coach in the senior program, will coach the Futures Squad during the Winter Series.
In what might be an AFL first, there are Guldens involved in all three Swans senior programs - Errol on the AFL list; his brother Adam on the Swans VFL list, and their mum Bronwyn working as a coach in the Swans' AFLW and Academy program.
Chris Smith says it's an exciting time for the Academy's female players. "The AFLW season is fast approaching and it's the start of a new era for the Swans. So many of our girls have their eye on the prize, and the Winter Series is a real chance for them to showcase their talents.''
FEMALE WINTER SERIES 2022 FIXTURE
Sunday May 15
Opens v Tasmania, 11am, North Sydney Oval
Saturday May 28
Futures v Giants, 11am, Manuka Oval, Canberra
Opens v Giants, 1.30pm, Manuka Oval, Canberra
Sunday June 5
Opens v NT, Time TBC, North Sydney Oval
Saturday June 11
Futures v Giants, 11am, North Sydney Oval
Opens v Giants, 1.30pm, North Sydney Oval
Sunday June 26
Futures v Giants, Time TBC, North Sydney Oval
Opens v Giants, Time TBC, North Sydney Oval
