Why Sydney Swans’ Montana Ham is perfectly placed to break the AFLW open

After becoming the No.1 draft pick for the Swans’ inaugural season, Montana Ham has had two years plagued by injury. Now her time has arrived to announce herself.

Three seasons on, the Swans can no longer fly under the radar.

Their march to finals in 2023 captivated the competition as they well and truly announced their arrival in the AFLW.

But now comes a sense of expectation. Not only do opposition teams know what they’re capable of, but Sydney players have had a taste of winning and they’ve got an appetite for more.

That feeling is incredible pertinent for Montana Ham. The club’s inaugural pick when she was taken with the first selection in the 2022 draft, Ham believes she’s better placed than ever to not only live up to her own potential, but make sure her teammates do as well.

“I think excitement is probably the perfect word to describe it,” Ham said.

“We did so well last year and we came a long way, but we’re now looking into the future.

“In a way, I’m still finding my feet around the club. We have an amazing group of experienced girls who have been around programs for a while now. It’s working out what works well for them and trying to add that to my game.

“But now I’ve had a couple of years under my belt, it’s helping the young girls, the draftees and taking them under my wing. They can learn from my mistakes and I can help them try and navigate stuff I wouldn’t have had much knowledge about.”

Ham (L) is one of the Swans’ inaugural AFLW draftees along with Ella Heads (C) and Sofia Hurley (R) ready to make a big impact in 2024. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Ham admits one of the toughest adjustments to make last year was understanding that their first season wasn’t a complete write-off. While the Swans didn’t win a single game in 2022, they gained plenty of belief from the way they were able to compete with teams that already had strong foundations.

Balancing that with her own injury concerns, particularly a stress reaction in her foot that limited her ability to hit the ground running, meant that 2023 wasn’t quite the season that Ham wanted either.

“It was tough our first year not winning a game,” Ham said.

“You can go into your shell a bit so we brought it back to what can we measure our performances on that isn’t stats-based.

“As a group, we sat down and realised we wanted to be a process-driven team. Then getting a couple of wins under your belt helps with your confidence, but we’re still always taking it one game at a time.

“The off-field injury side of things is where I learned a lot about myself. I had a few niggly injuries that stuck around in those two seasons, and I was able to get a new perspective on games and not take things for granted.

“That’s where you learn the most about yourself when you have those challenges in life.”

The 20-year-old has shown glimpses of her best in the AFLW but is ready to be more consistent. Picture: Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Those problems appear behind her and the 20-year-old looks set for a massive season. Ask anyone around the Swans, and Ham’s is the first name that springs to mind when you ask which player to look out for.

In the club’s recent VFLW stint, Ham kicked seven goals and averaged 21.8 disposals and four tackles a game. If that’s her baseline in 2024, then she’s clearly ready to break the AFLW open.

“When the third year comes around, you’re a bit more confident in yourself and your body,” Ham said.

“So it was about coming back as fit and strong as I could to hit the ground running.

“I think versatility is one thing I’m working on in my game and being able to go wherever Scotty (Gowans) needs me. The other is being consistent, so my teammates know exactly what I’m going to do whenever I have the ball.

“Contest work is where I feel I’m at my strongest, and when I’m driving out of it. If I can hone in on my strengths, that’s what helps me perform for the team.

“This is an incredible group, they’re capable of a lot. But we’re trying not to get too far ahead of ourselves. Everyone strives to win a grand final, that’s the goal for every team and a goal of ours. But at the moment we’re trying to strip it back.

“We’ve been working this year on being more vulnerable, having those tough conversations and creating a judgement-free platform so people express themselves. And if we’re taking it session by session, then we can attack it as hard as we can in the moment.”

Originally published as Why Sydney Swans’ Montana Ham is perfectly placed to break the AFLW open