Colin O'Riordan is confident his side will take the Clubs' first-ever home NAB AFLW Finals series game head-on and that, despite having one of the youngest average ages in the competition, the players' maturity will shine through when it matters most. 

The Sydney Swans are just two days away from hosting the Western Bulldogs in an Elimination Final at Henson Park after Sydney clinched the home final on the final day of the home-and-away season with a program-record ninth win.  

Speaking to media on Friday, O'Riordan said that the playing group aren’t shying away from the occasion that awaits them on Sunday and are instead welcoming the opportunity to continue their season in front of their home fans.   

“It’s a monumental day for the footy club, and on Sunday to have your first home final at Henson Park, it is what we set out at the start of the year to be playing in,” O'Riordan said.   

With an average age of just over 23, the Swans list is the third youngest in the competition. With many of O'Riordan’s squad making their finals debut this Sunday, the first-year head coach says that despite the age of some of his players, the level they play at is far beyond what is shown on paper.    

“I think our side is young on paper, but they're also pretty mature. They’ve played a lot of games together. A lot of them have been in the system before and playing games together, and sometimes that is forgotten about,” O'Riordan said.   

“Yes, we're young in age, but on games played, and games played together, I think we’re actually okay.  

“There's going to be nerves, there's going to be a big crowd here on Sunday, but again we just talked about embracing that and not to shy away from it. Run into the fire and take the game head on, and if we do that and we embrace the challenge, I think we will set us up for hopefully a good game.” 

Sydney have only ever featured in one other AFLW finals series back in 2023, where they reached the semi-finals. On the club's maiden finals appearance, the Swans travelled to Adelaide and Melbourne before exiting the finals.   

O'Riordan, who is also making his AFLW finals debut as senior coach, knows the importance of the home-field advantage and is confident the red and white fans will make Henson Park a boisterous environment come 1:05 PM. 

“I think playing at home in any game is huge,” O'Riordan said.   

“We know our Swan fans are incredibly loyal to us; our team feel it, they see it, they hear the support from the hill. 

“I think sometimes it gets underestimated the importance of it. We're under no illusion about the power they bring, and hopefully they can rock up in good numbers, and we can give them a show.” 

Sydney and the Western Bulldogs have met already this season in round four, where the Bulldogs delivered the then undefeated Swans their first loss of the season. Winning by 27 points (9.6 60 to 5.3 33) at a wet and windy Mission Whitten Oval.  

Reflecting on the lessons learnt from that meeting and what needs to change for the Swans come Sunday, O'Riordan identified one key area of the ground his side must do a better job in, if they want to progress to the second week of finals.  

“We got smacked in the contest [last time against the Bulldogs],” O'Riordan said. 

“We also didn’t have the looks on offence we wanted. 

“But it stems back to our pressure and contest this week; if we get that right and start early with that, I think that will give us the best chance to give us the outcome we want.” 

O'Riordan and his coaching staff are closely monitoring the fitness of the club's co-vice-captain, Sofia Hurely, who is in a race against time to be fit for Sunday’s Elimination final.   

The 22-year-old has progressed well through her recovery so far and is aiming to take the field come Sunday after suffering a serious ankle injury in round five's Sydney Derby, which has kept her sidelined for the entirety of the second half of the season.  

“Sof has to get through training today [before we make the final call],” O'Riordan said. 

“But when you have your vice-captain potentially fit and ready, I think she probably deserves the right to play.” 

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