We are back at the SCG for a Friday night Marn Grook blockbuster against Carlton, catch up with the top headlines with Red and White News, presented by 7+Sport.
Marn Grook
The Sydney Swans will celebrate Marn Grook at the SCG when they take on Carlton on Friday night as part of the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Make sure you get to your seats early as Kobie Dee performs ahead of first bounce on Friday night. Catch the performance from 7:10pm followed by our pre-game cultural ceremony including a gift exchange that will take place before the Sydney Swans and Carlton walk though a joint banner.
There are lots of activities to get involved in, including the Heartbeat of Football, in partnership with Na Joomelah, who will be conducting free heart health checks on Driver Avenue ahead of the game.
The Swans will wear their new Marn Grook guernsey on Friday night. The new guernsey shares a connection with club’s home, Sydney Swans HQ, as it has been adapted from the work of renowned Indigenous artist Jordan Ardler, which is showcased through the Welcome to Country at the club’s entrance.
Players and staff visited the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern on Monday and participated in a range of cultural activities led by community members, which included a welcome to country, education in fire, dance, social and emotional wellbeing, as well as a lesson on the history of Redfern.
Wicks re-signs
Sydney defender Sam Wicks has been rewarded for his outstanding early season form, after it was announced earlier in the week that he had signed a three-year contract extension.
Wicks, who grew up a Swans supporter, said he was thrilled to continue his journey with the club.
“You look at the direction the club is going, we’ve got a group of really young and exciting players and a new Head Coach in Coxy, so I think there’s some really great times ahead,” Wicks said.
“It was a bit of a no brainer to stay in Sydney, I’ve got all my friends and family here, as well as great people here at the Swans, so it was an easy decision.”
It was also announced that 2024 draftees Ned Bowman and Jesse Dattoli have inked one-year extensions until 2027.
AFLW returns for pre-season testing
The full AFLW squad is back at the club for an orientation week, where they will participate in pre-season testing before training officially begins next week.
As part of their testing, the girls were put through their paces in a 1.5k time trial.
Midfielder Laura Gardiner took out first place, followed by new recruit Lulu Pullar and reigning Swans Best and Fairest Sofia Hurley.
Cox: "This is the last one he needs to get through before he decides to play a game, so hopefully that can happen."
Senior Coach Dean Cox spoke to journalists in a press conference on Wednesday (May 14). He spoke about the importance of Sir Doug Nicholls Round, provided an update on the side's injury list and how the side can return to playing their best.
Speaking about the return of Captain Callum Mills, Cox said he would be tested ahead of this week.
"We've got to have a look at that at training tonight, and then from there, with Callum, we've always said we'll sit down with him following each session about what the next one looks like," Cox said.
"This is the last one he needs to get through before he decides to play a game, so hopefully that can happen, and then the dynamic of what that looks like with the physios, medical staff, about whether it's restricted, we're going to work our way through that.
"So I don't like getting too far ahead before players actually tick off what they need to."
Match Day Mingle is back
Sydney Swans games are already a great day out — they’re also the perfect place to meet a mate or maybe even spark a date!
After the success of last year's event, it's back bigger and better this year.
Join us Saturday, May 31 for a Match Day Mingle presented by Jim Beam at The Beresford, your all-in pre-game social sesh before heading over to the stands of the SCG to see the Swans take on the Adelaide Crows.
Get your tickets here.
