Sydney Swans defender Alice Mitchell says team defence has been a major focus this pre-season as the side looks towards its 2025 AFLW campaign.

Sydney has less than 11 weeks until it runs out onto North Sydney Oval for Round 1, and players are in their third week of pre-season training. 

Mitchell was drafted to the Swans in 2022, and after missing Sydney's inaugural season through injury, has established herself as a reliable defender. 

Speaking to Sydney Swans Media, the 23-year-old said the past three years have set the team up to go to another level this pre-season. 

"The sessions that we're doing are a lot of ball movement, we're focusing a lot on our team defence this year, so a lot of our drills are kind of shaped around that and then our modes of play around the ground as well," Mitchell said.

"This pre-season, I think, is probably going to be our hardest one, we've got a new program, a new strength and conditioning coach and new systems that we want to put into place.

"I think this year is going to be a lot more challenging, but I think it's going to push us harder, I think we've now built a good base these last three years that we can really start to push ourselves and get those high reps in the gym or more reps in training and more high intensities, we're able to do that."

The AFLW Fixture was released on Friday, with the Swans set to open their season against Richmond at home on August 15.

With pre-season underway and the countdown to Round 1 on, Mitchell said her sights were firmly set on the clash with the Tigers. 

"We've got something that we're working towards now, and it's nice that we know what teams we're going to be coming up against," Mitchell said. 

"I think we're pretty happy with the fixture that we've got, we've got a few good away games in Hobart and Coffs Harbour, but yeah, really looking forward to Richmond Round 1, that's what we've all got our eyes set for."

Before the season kicks off, the side will travel to Coffs Harbour for their pre-season Community Camp.

Over the three days, the team will train and host a range of activities for the local community to participate in. 

Mitchell, drafted from Gunnedah (a small town in north-central New South Wales), emphasised the importance of visiting towns in regional NSW to promote the game. 

"I got picked up in a regional area, from Gunnedah, it's so important that we get more exposure out to those sort of areas because footy is such a great game," Mitchell said. 

"We just want to share it with the rest of Australia, particularly in those northern areas of New South Wales where AFL might not be as big, getting to those sort of communities really exposes the game.

"Some of those people aren't able to come and watch the men's games, but it's so good that we can come out and go to them, I think the community really appreciates that and obviously it does well to put Coffs on the map so I'm all for it."

In addition to training and community activities, the camp will be an opportunity to create connections within the team during the pre-season period. 

"Team bonding is always very important, going away together, it's always fun," Mitchell said.

"I like going away with the girls, they're the weekends we look forward to the most, I'm sure we're going to be thrown with a lot of different challenges because it's getting closer to the end of the pre-season.

"But yeah, we're all looking forward to getting out of Sydney as a team and going up to Coffs."

Swans fans can show their support for our AFLW side and get the most out of game day with an AFLW Coffs Membership. You’ll get access to a grandstand ticket to our game at C/ex Coffs international Stadium, access to any of our other Sydney Swans AFLW home and away games, an AFLW gift and you’ll be part of the Guard of Honour at our Coffs Harbour game.

AFLW Coffs memberships are available here.