The Sydney Swans AFLW team will blood six new players for their season opener at North Sydney Oval on Friday night.
Senior coach Scott Gowans has named 18-year-old Zippy Fish and 28-year-old Caitlin Reid to make their AFLW debuts.
Fish was taken with Sydney's first pick and 5th pick overall in the 2024 AFLW Draft, while mature-aged local Caitlin Reid was taken with pick 60.
Speaking to Sydney Swans Media, Gowans said both players were valuable additions to the team.
"Caitlin Reid will play ruck, a little bit forward as well, she's just a great competitor and really prides her game on her ability to compete," Gowans said.
"Zippy's probably a little bit the opposite, she's very flashy, but off the back of really sound team defence and her skills are amazing and she brings others into the game.
"She's probably been the missing piece, I think, for us out of our team defence has been that link-up player, and Zippy's certainly that."
The pair will be joined by recruits Lulu Pullar, Darcy Moloney, Ash Van Loon and Jas Grierson, who will make their Swans debut.
Pullar, 27, joined the Swans following 27 games across four seasons in the competition with the Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne, while Moloney, 22, brings 46 games of experience from the Geelong Cats.
Van Loon arrived at the Swans from Essendon in the 2024 AFLW Trade Period, having played 26 matches for the Bombers, and Grierson brings nine seasons' worth of experience from stints with Melbourne, North Melbourne and GWS.
"Very excited to see Ash down back, she's a really sound defender, gets the job done," Gowans said.
"Jas is a beautiful kicker of the football and one of those players you just trust that she'll intercept and just calm things down. She has a lot of composure, which will be great in tough moments in games.
"Darcy's had to work very hard to get her full-time opportunity in the midfield and she comes to us with great expectations and has lived up to that so far, so exciting for her.
"Lulu's been in great programs with Brisbane and North in the past and starved of opportunity, as well as a few little injuries, so nice to see Lulu get her opportunity as well, and she'll play through the midfield and on the wing."
In exciting news, co-captain Chloe Molloy and ruck Ally Morphett will make their long-awaited returns to the AFLW after spending the majority of the 2024 season sidelined with injury.
Molloy will return for her first game since Round 1 last year, after sustaining an ACL injury, while Morphett will feature after only playing three games last season after suffering a fracture in her foot.
Gowans said the pair would provide a big boost for the team.
"Chloe is obviously a superstar of the competition and exciting to see her back," Gowans said.
"What she does bring football-wise, I think everyone's aware of, but it's more what she brings to the team, stability with the leadership, the on-field smarts, the scenario plays, set plays, things like that, so she's a key component for us.
"Ally Morphett, well if you don't get the ball first, you're going to struggle, and Ally brings that, hits to advantage and just her ability to burst through packs and take the game on.
"She was a very important missing piece for most of last year, so exciting to see her back."
Be there, as we open our season with Friday night footy against Richmond, at North Sydney Oval on August 15.
Kids GO FREE, and adult tickets are only $15! Secure your tickets HERE.
