‘Effort upon effort’: How the Swans became a defensive powerhouse
It was one of their biggest areas of concern in their inaugural season, but the Sydney Swans have quickly become the best defensive team in the competition.
The Swans knew it would take everything they had to defeat the Suns in their elimination final last weekend. They just didn’t think they would be breaking records in the process.
But that’s exactly what they did as they laid 106 tackles in their win over Gold Coast, setting a new benchmark for the most in an AFLW game.
“On the weekend, anyone will tell you that it blew us away,” Tanya Hetherington, Sydney’s forwards coach said.
“There wasn’t a focus as such to go out and break a record. You know, that’s just the girls’ willingness to work hard.”
Pressure has become one of the most important yardsticks in the AFLW. It’s no surprise that three of the teams that won in the first week of finals all won the tackle count by 24 or greater.
However, it’s also been a key area where the Swans have struggled across their first two years in the competition.
During their inaugural season, the Swans were the worst team in the competition for points from turnovers and tackles laid.
They’ve turned that mark around to be the second-best team in the AFLW for points from turnovers with a much-improved pressure factor.
Yet, it was a problem that also crept into the beginning of this season. Their tackles were still low, and they weren’t registering the pressure that they wanted to in games.
But throughout the Swans’ four-game winning run, which started with their massive victory over the Western Bulldogs, the side has arguably become the best defensive team in the competition.
Since round eight, they have been the best team in the AFLW for points from turnovers and have the second-best pressure factor in the competition.
“It was the one area all year we were tracking okay, but we weren’t hitting the mark,” Scott Gowans said.
“The defensive side of [our game is] probably where the growth has come over the last few weeks. Since the Bulldogs game where we offensively were really good, we’ve put a bit of a focus into that and hopefully, that can now transition to a complete game of footy.
“There’ll be ebbs and flows, but I feel the group now knows what’s required to bring the balance of defence and offence.”
“In terms of the game plan, pressure is a fundamental part,” Hetherington added. “It’s not like we’ve turned on a switch that says we need to pressure now.
“I think just 11 weeks into our season, the girls have seen how valuable it is if you can pressure an opposition and take away their strengths.”
YOUNG GUNS LEADING THE CHARGE
The exciting thing for the Swans is that the pressure is coming from some of their youngest players.
Rising Star nominee Sofia Hurley was immense against the Suns, finishing with 16 tackles, three intercept possessions and five tackles inside 50.
The 19-year-old said she can’t remember the last time she had made that many tackles in a game.
“I think something we really value as a team is the effort that doesn’t require skills,” Hurley said. “That’s something that we have bought into this year.
“Everyone’s intent and the tackles that we laid in this last game is literally just effort upon effort.”
Standing at just 166cm, Hurley’s physicality is there to see, and she is more than happy to throw her body around to help create turnovers.
“When you look at her, you wouldn’t think that she’d be the body type that could lay 16 tackles,” Hetherington said. “But it comes down to that mindset and ferocity, she absolutely loves the contest.
“We’ve had her in a few positions this year, but that’s her one wood, she knows she can do that. And then when the team sees that, it makes other people want to jump on board.
“Second season in and that’s the kind of effort you’re getting? You can’t ask for much more.”
Hurley is far from alone in that regard. Laura Gardiner has been a revelation in 2023 and has rightly been named in the All-Australian squad for her performances.
Gardiner, 20, averages 9.1 tackles a game and has the fourth-best pressure points in the AFLW.
Irish recruit Tanya Kennedy is the other key player leading the way, with 5.5 tackles and 10.5 defensive-half pressure acts a game.
And as the Swans continue to improve in all facets of the game week-on-week, there’s a sense that their pressure game could take them a long way in this final's fun.
“You can’t underestimate how important it is to pressure the opposition and to try and take away their game,” Hetherington said.
“If they can produce anything similar [against Adelaide] I think that could go a long way to us being in the game.”
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