The ‘wake-up call’ that sparked Sydney’s AFLW finals charge

Three Swans players have been involved in every AFLW game the club has played — and they always believed in their finals destiny after a winless season.

Sydney players Sofia Hurley, Ella Heads and Brenna Tarrant are the only three players to play in all matches for the Swans since they joined the AFLW. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Only three Swans players can lay claim to running out for every game in the club’s short AFLW history.

Brenna Tarrant, Sofia Hurley and Ella Heads will all be in the 21 for the 21st time this weekend when they take on Gold Coast in the side’s first finals match.

“At the start of this season, I think we had a real belief about us,” Hurley said.

“But it’s different believing something and then it actually happening. So, I’m very excited.”

It’s been a well-documented transformation from the Swans to finish in the top eight after their winless inaugural campaign.

But for the players, while they never lost faith in the direction of the club, those on-field results drove their determination this season.

Hurley, 19, was one of the Swans’ best in their first season, finishing third in their B & F. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Tarrant, 22, joined the Swans after three years at Melbourne. She played three finals for the Demons across that time and was slowly establishing herself in their side.

But with competition for spots high, the Blue Mountains product opted to join the Swans for their first year in the AFLW. And the path to long-term success was always clear.

“I never wondered why I signed with the Swans or that sort of stuff,” Tarrant said.

“It was always just a fight and a wrestle to get into that [Melbourne] team and that’s what successful teams are like. I was getting limited games and I considered playing out my contract with them.

“But in the grand scheme of things, I’ve been a Swans fan since I started playing footy.

“We weren’t winning [last season], but the opportunity that I saw was to provide this team … time to grow and get games under your belt.

“It was a bit of a wake-up call and we wanted to prove to the AFL and the AFLW world that we’re meant to be in this league and that we can perform at the standards that are required to be in the AFLW space.”

Heads and Tarrant have become two of the Swans’ most influential figures in defence. Picture: Phil Hillyard

While the results could have potentially created fractures in the group, Scott Gowans and the rest of the coaching staff ensured that the players saw the long-term plan that was in place.

The Swans have the fourth-youngest list in the competition, and it will be that crop of players who drives them into the future. Knowing that they could only go up from their first season turned out to be a great place to start.

“I think it was almost a benefit we had that we were so rushed,” Hurley said. “There were girls who literally moved up, they got a call and then two days later moved their whole life.

“Everyone’s been thrown in and has had their life tipped on their head. It’s one of the reasons we’re a really tight-knit group.”

The squad went to work over the off-season to get prepared for 2023. Many made unscheduled trips into the HQ for unofficial training sessions and worked with coaches to get a head start on this year’s campaign.

The Swans were determined to set the record straight after a disappointing first season. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“A lot of girls chose to stay and live up here despite having lives and family in Melbourne,” Tarrant said. “They had extra hands-on experience and training with the coaches.

“Then we had matches to give us more game experience before we had even jumped into pre-season. People wanted to commit to that to be able to play more footy and experience the top level without playing for points.

“Even two or three years ago, I wondered how much further my skills could improve. Since coming to the Swans and seeing this young group of girls consistently pushing and working harder, that’s inspired me to push and work harder.”

“Last year wasn’t a bad season, we just didn’t get a win,” Hurley added. “We learned so much, so I think we were just excited to finally translate that into actual performance.”

Tarrant has been one of the Swans’ most consistent performers this year while Hurley and Heads both earned Rising Star nominations this year.

It’s a testament to not only their growth but the attacking style of footy Sydney has employed.

The talent in the Sydney group will only continue to grow in the years to come. Picture: James Worsfold/AFL Photos/Getty Images

Gowans has made clear his desire to help grow the game by creating an entertaining spectacle, and that’s translated to his playing group.

They’re determined to take that style into finals, but regardless of the result against the Suns, they know the best is still to come.

“Comparing the two seasons that we’ve had, watching our game style this year and how nicely the ball moves around, it’s just satisfying,” Tarrant said. “It gives you all this serotonin in your body and you’re like, ‘Wow, we’re playing good footy’.

“To be in finals requires a lot of hard work. And I think the progression that our team has shown from last year to this year exaggerates that saying that hard work achieves success.

“There’s just so much more to come from these girls. The way we’re tracking and the way that we’re training, we’ll do the same thing again next season, if not harder, just to become a force to be reckoned with and push these young girls to reach their potential.”