The Sydney Swans AFLW side has overcome a slow start to claim a 17-point victory over the Gold Coast Suns in a pre-season match simulation at the SCG on Friday afternoon.

The match is one of four pre-season hit-outs before the Swans' AFLW season officially kicks off on Sunday, August 16 in Adelaide.

The Swans were slow to start, finding themselves down by 25 points in the opening term, before turning things around in the second half to run out winners. 

Sydney senior assistant coach Tanya Hetherington, said that the match had provided a number of learnings to take into the remainder of pre-season.

"We were just we're a bit slow to start and, you know, whether that's nerves, probably the physicality,  I think that it was a really good learning that we can't start like that or we'll get, you know, punished, especially by a physical team," Hetherington said. 

"And Brisbane are a physical team, so we'll definitely look at that, but I think, again, hopefully the nerves are all gone in this game.

"We were also just a bit sluggish too on our Team Defence, and we've been working on that, so it's just good to reinforce how we get better there. There's so many learnings but really pleased to see the girls respond when it was tough early."

Hetherington said that once the team started to connect and gel, the offensive aspect of the game was pleasing.

"I think our offence, we were really, really good when we went fast, got the ball forward," Hetherington said.

"So it was awesome to see that once the game did click, like we were really dangerous. So I think it's never as good as it seems and it's never as bad as it seems but yeah, the offensive side of our game when it got going was excellent."

Several new faces were on show for Sydney, including high-profile off-season recruit Taylor Smith.

Smith didn't take long to make her impact felt, the key forward kicking the first goal of the match in the opening minutes.

Hetherington said Smith was an important target for the team up forward.

"She's a real pillar for us to kick to, we want to be able to take territory, so to be able to look up and see her there as a presence is really important for us as a team," Hetherington said.

"She contested really well, obviously got on the end of the goal, so again, she'll be better for that run playing with us in a new system."

In addition to Smith, several players ran out in the red and white for the first time. Draftees Maddie Quinn and Molly Thomas got their first taste of AFLW football, alongside Irish Rookie Mary-Kate Lynch. Utility Imogen Brown, who spent the majority of the 2025 season sidelined through injury also took the field for the first time.

"I think just seeing so many players play for the first time, was really pleasing," Hetherington said.

"We have a lot of young players who have come through, like Imogen Brown playing her first game.

"You can expect some nerves early, but just to actually get a game under their belt is going to help them so much, and us as a team. So I think just getting people through in a match experience against oppo was a good result for us."

SYDNEY 12.6.78

GOLD COAST 9.7.61

Goals
Sydney: Taylor Smith (2), Holly Cooper (2), Imogen Brown, Paris McCarthy (3), Sofia Hurley, Caitlin Reid, Chloe Molloy, Tanya Kennedy

Next week, the Swans will travel to Brisbane to take on the Lions in their second match simulation. 

Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans - Saturday, July 18, 12:00pm (local) @ Brighton Homes Arena