Swans coach Scott Gowans hits out at criticism of Sydney’s late arrival to AFLW
Sydney coach Scott Gowans has hit back at suggestions his side was reluctant to join the AFLW and denied the idea that the Swans shafted rival clubs through their expansion concessions.
Sydney coach Scott Gowans has hit back at suggestions his side was reluctant to join the AFLW and denied the idea that the Swans shafted rival clubs through their expansion concessions.
Gowans also said that he was “disappointed” by comments from former AFLW player and commentator Kate McCarthy that he said “painted (the Swans) as not being interested” in the competition.
The Swans were one of the final four AFL teams to gain an AFLW license, playing their first season in the seventh edition of the competition in 2022. As part of their introduction, they were granted several concessions by the AFL, including additional top-end draft picks, free trades and extra list spots to help their development.
Conversely, their cross-town rivals, the GWS Giants, have been part of the AFLW since the first season in 2017.
After four rounds of the 2025 season, the Swans and Giants are at opposite ends of the AFLW ladder, with Sydney undefeated after four games and GWS yet to win a match.
McCarthy claimed that the discrepancy between the two teams and the concessions that were given to the Swans “didn’t sit well” with her, given the Giants’ courage in entering the competition at the first opportunity.
“(The Giants), they wanted in on AFLW,” McCarthy said on Talking W on Tuesday night. “The Sydney Swans were reluctant to start with.
“It doesn’t sit super well with me, though, that a club that came into the competition from day one and wanted to be a part of the AFLW, has had a lot of their talent taken away from them, from a team that came in the last expansion that didn’t see the future of AFLW.”
McCarthy also heaped plenty of praise on what the Swans and Gowans have achieved this season with such a young squad, highlighting that they are built for long-term success.
However, the comments around their reluctance to join the competition have drawn the ire of the Swans.
During the AFLW’s initial seasons, the Swans were based out of smaller facilities in the SCG’s Brewongle Stand as they constructed their new headquarters at the Royal Hall of Industries in Moore Park. With no space to hold a women’s program, the Swans’ stance was that they didn’t want to enter the competition until they could properly support it.
That was in direct contrast to a team like GWS, which prioritised being a part of the inaugural intake and figuring out the specifics along the journey.
“As a club, we were really disappointed with the comments,” Gowans said.
“They went through a number of stats which factually were right, but that’s been expansion in the AFLW … the AFL rules, and we just abide by the rules.
“But it was more the comments around our history with how we came into the competition, and that was completely wrong. Our steering committee did a great job, and they realised we couldn’t fit (a women’s program) into our facility at the SCG, we couldn’t do it properly. So if we weren’t going to do it properly, we were not doing it.
“So, we put effort into the Academy to build a core group, the staff, and we moved to this great facility, and then it was time. But there was absolute disappointment that we couldn’t be part of the inaugural teams.
“This club is so invested, and I think that was probably the more disappointing thing with the comments. It’s fine to have commentary around it, but we’re disappointed that it went that way, and painted us as not being interested in coming in, and almost shafting other clubs, which just wasn’t true.”
McCarthy later clarified her comments on X, stating that: “This isn’t a crack at the Swans, who are absolutely flying for many reasons. It is to highlight the struggles at the Giants, who I feel need more help.”
GWS coach Cam Bernasconi has also previously stated that while the expansion concessions did probably hurt the Giants initially, he believes they will eventually level out over time.
“When expansion comes in, you’re trying to fast-track the new teams … so they get more top-end picks, list spots, and I understand as a competition you have to do that,” Bernasconi said.
This isn’t a crack at the Swans who are absolutely flying for many reasons. It is to highlight the struggles at the Giants who I feel need more help. https://t.co/W8S5ZuXd34
— Kate McCarthy (@kateemac9) September 9, 2025
“Sometimes that takes a few years to then wash out. So the sides that are probably down the bottom of the ladder in that period, it takes them longer to get back to the top.
“I think the comp is at an equal level now. You’ve got a national draft, so there are no excuses now, but it does just take a little bit more time.
“I’m really proud that we are a foundation club and we’ve had a great journey. I don’t worry too much about what we haven’t got, to be honest.”
The interest in the two NSW-based AFLW clubs is only set to intensify with the Sydney Derby at Henson Park next Sunday afternoon on September 21.
Originally published as Swans coach Scott Gowans hits out at criticism of Sydney’s late arrival to AFLW
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