When the Sydney Swans host Greater Western Sydney in the AFLW on Saturday afternoon, it will be the first Sydney derby, Marn Grook match and game for premiership points on the SCG in the women’s competition.
The first player to graduate from the Sydney Swans Academy into the AFLW, Jess Doyle, was picked up by GWS in the 2021 national draft before Sydney had a senior team. However, she is proud to now wear the charcoal and orange and excited to face her old colours on Saturday.
“We’ve been the team of New South Wales and [the] ACT for the first six seasons and the Giants are proud to be an inaugural team and proud of what we’ve built. I think they [the club] have been role models for young women and girls in our game for six years now.
“The game is continuing to grow both in Sydney and Australia-wide and I think we’re proud to play that role for Sydney … it’s also a good thing that we have two teams because it almost shows how much talent we can get out of Sydney,” said Doyle.
“It’s an exciting time for the game here in Sydney and I just can’t wait to be a part of the thrilling rivalry.”
Inaugural Giant Nicola Barr, who was taken in the first overall selection in the 2016 national draft, says she is stoked the women can add to the Sydney club rivalry, which is something she loves about the men’s competition.
Swans captain Brooke Lochland and GWS counterpart Alicia Eva get an early look at the SCG this week.Credit:Wolter Peeters
“Now, actually getting to be a part of that ourselves is really exciting,” said Barr.
The 26-year-old added that despite growing up a Swans supporter as a teen, she couldn’t be happier to now play for their rivals – especially given they were the first in Sydney.
Saturday’s Sydney derby will be the first AFLW match played for points at the SCG.Credit:Wolter Peeters
“We’ve been here since day one,” said Barr. “I know that myself and all the girls in the club are super proud of that and being part of the club who put their hand up straight away to say ‘we want to have a women’s team’. But we’re also incredibly excited to have another team in Sydney, as much as it’s a rivalry and we want to win this weekend.”
The game is also the first women’s Marn Grook match, a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which has always been an important on the Swans’ calendar.
Sydney small forward and proud Ningy Ningy woman Aliesha Newman said being able to represent her culture and people was “a huge honour and privilege”.
“I’ve been a pretty big driver of trying to get Indigenous round for the last seven years and we finally got one [last year],” Newman said this week. “We had a Pride game but we never had a [Indigenous] round.”
“It’s something that means a lot to me and my family and to be able to represent them as well as everybody else in the community, and show what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are capable of.
“For us, in a space like this to be able to just start conversations I think it is something that needs to be done.”
There are 101 Indigenous players represented across the men’s and women’s leagues, with only 20 in the AFLW. Newman is the first Indigenous player at Sydney, was the first at her previous clubs Melbourne and Collingwood and says she hopes pathways will help see more numbers in the future.
“It’s exciting to be the first, but I just can’t wait to see other Indigenous girls come through,” she said.
Barr says despite Sydney’s entry being good for the competition and the women’s game in Sydney, at the end of the day what she really wants is a win over them.
“I love to see female participation grow and, you know, for the sport of AFL to grow in Sydney, but at the end of the day, I’m an athlete and I’m competitive and I do want to win the game.
“We’ve obviously started the season probably not the way we wanted to with two losses … I know that we’re all really desperate to get a win.”
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