Joel Amartey: How breakout Swan is the surprise leading man in Sydney’s forward line

Only 57 games into his AFL career, Joel Amartey finds himself as the main man in the Swans’ forward line. Ahead of a return to the scene of his nine-goal breakout, he says he’s ready to step up.

Joel Amartey returns to Adelaide Oval for the first time this week since his incredible nine-goal haul against the Crows last season, and the Sydney key forward is ready to shoulder the extra responsibility that has fallen his way in 2025.

After years of injury frustrations, Amartey finally got his body right and went from the fringes of the Swans’ side to kicking 43 goals in 25 matches last season. His breakout performance was against the Crows as he ran amok on Adelaide Oval, and he’s hopeful he will have similar fortunes this week against the Pies in Gather Round.

“Hopefully, it’s a good omen for me again,” Amartey said. “But that game last year was a bit of a blur, it felt like it came and went in two minutes, I didn’t know what was going on. It finished and I had had a pretty good game.

“Gather Round is one of the great rounds of the year. I think (the new Guernsey is one of my favourite kits we’ve got up there with the Red V – all the boys are saving a fresh pair of white boots for it too.

“Two good teams up against each other on a Friday night. It’s going to take a full four-quarter performance to try and get over the line.”

Amartey had plenty to celebrate the last time he played on Adelaide Oval, finishing with nine goals. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Amartey has had another strong start to the year, kicking nine goals in the opening four games. But it’s been his ability to stand up in the big moments that have shown how much he has matured as a key forward.

Against Fremantle, he fought off cramp to return to the field and kick the match-winning goal in the dying minutes. He also led the line admirably for the Swans in their first two games without the likes of Hayden McLean and Logan McDonald, who formed a key part in the club having the No.1 attack in the competition in 2024.

It’s part of the reason why Amartey is now considered one of the leaders of the Swans’ forward line, and it’s a responsibility he’s relishing now that he finally feels established in his footy career.

The Dockers led for almost the entire day before Joel Amartey marked inside 50...

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“I’ve been pleased with the way I’ve been competing against some really good defences and key backs in the comp so far this year,” he said. “My main role is to create that contest, and I think I’ve played my role so far. It’s such a dynamic forward line with these elite smalls and different avenues to goal.

“Especially with Paps out at the moment … it’s been a really good opportunity for me to try and help lead some of the younger boys, even though I’m pretty young myself. I get to see everyone in front of me as a key forward, and can help everyone through the game.

“I’ve enjoyed that added responsibility of being a more senior player this year. There’s a little bit (more attention). Coming from the first 15-20 games when Bud (Lance Franklin) was there and defenders focused on him, it’s different. But each week poses a different challenge.”

The 25-year-old celebrates his match-winning goal against the Dockers in round two. Picture: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos via Getty Images

While time might not be as much on Amartey’s side as much as other promising young, key forwards in the competition like Sam Darcy, Riley Thilthorpe or Josh Treacy, he knows he has a unique advantage of being mature in both body and mind.

The 25-year-old has kicked 82 goals in his 57 AFL matches to date. That’s more goals than the likes of Tom Hawkins, Joe Daniher, Charlie Cameron and Aaron Naughton had after the same number of games.

And with players like reigning Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan and Jeremy Cameron showing key forwards still have a big role to play in their 30s, Amartey is content knowing he’s got plenty more to give.

“It’s such a physical position, all the key positions when you look at rucks and other spots,” Amartey said.

Amartey is embracing the responsibility of leading the line for the Swans and becoming their number one talisman. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“When you’re 18, you’re pretty underdeveloped compared to the 27 and 28-year-olds. So that can be a hard match up. And I’m still building on the way there, but I think I’ve come a long way.

“Learning from (Buddy) and Sam Reid, the way they competed throughout their careers. They didn’t always have a massive output in terms of touches and marks, but learning there are different ways as a key forward you can impact the game. They’re pressure players, they rarely got outmarked – their the takeaways for me from their careers.

“I’ve still got a lot of things to work on, but if I look over my previous seven years at the club, I’ve come a long way from when I got picked up in the rookie draft. I’m proud of what I’ve done so far, but I think there’s still a big opportunity to keep growing and keep getting better and help this team win footy games.”

Originally published as Joel Amartey: How breakout Swan is the surprise leading man in Sydney’s forward line