Swans boosted with new arrivals, returning faces

Swan Districts has added a couple of AFLW experienced players, welcomed back some key experienced stars to the club and will continue to back in the youth coming through for the 2024 WAFLW season.

There's every reason for there to be plenty of excitement at Swan Districts coming into the 2024 WAFLW season on the back of what was built in the back end of 2023.

After a horror start to the season, Swans were able to storm into the finals last year and now will be looking to build on that further in 2024 with every reason for optimism even if there has been considerable turnover once more.

Firstly, perhaps the biggest change for Swan Districts coming into the 2024 WAFLW season is Ben Bowness taking over as coach from Adam Dancey.

Then there's the new faces on board in the playing group which includes West Coast Eagles AFLW player Emma Humphries along with Tayla Thorn who brings with her experience from two different AFLW clubs.

Another player with AFLW experience at both the Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles is the returning Emily McGuire is back after a one-year absence with Brianna Hyde also back to play at Swan Districts for the first time since 2021.

If you add in those couple of new signings with AFLW experience, those returning and then also the natural improvement to come from within with the young players who have already played some WAFLW football and those coming up from Rogers Cup, and there is plenty to be excited about.

"We've picked up Emma Humphries from the Eagles. She's been an absolute joy to coach so far since coming to the club and she's really been driving the intensity," Bowness said.

"Then you have all those younger girls who are a year older and with the experience they've got over the last couple of years, it will definitely help them.

"Whilst we don’t have that many older or experienced players, I believe we do have young, experienced players if that makes sense.

"Another player to really look out for, though, is Carys D'Addario along with Sienna Gerardi and we do have Tayla Thorn coming back playing for us and she brings some AFLW experience."

There's the double bonus to welcome back two such key players like McGuire and Hyde too because while they are new recruits in terms of what they can add to the team from 2023, there's no feeling out process or learning to fit in needed to do.

As leaders from their previous time at Swan Districts and proven quality players, they are two new additions to the team of 2024 that Bowness couldn't be happier to be able to bank on.

"It's really good that they have chosen to come back to the club. They know the system and they immediately have on-field composure with the experience they have," he said.

"So what they bring can really help some of the younger players who are still kind of finding their feet in the team so we're really excited to have both of them coming back this year."

Swan Districts will have two new captains for the 2024 WAFLW season as well after Jess Cox ruptured her ACL midway through last season, and isn’t expected to be available again throughout the upcoming campaign.

The playing group voted in Eliza Gelmi and Demi Liddle to take on the roles of co-captains in 2024. Bowness couldn’t be happier to be working with them as his leaders of the team.

"I lean on them a lot as leaders," Bowness said.

"They've both been around the club for a while now, Eliza more so, and they are both natural both leaders and have made my job a lot easier already so I couldn’t ask for two better captains to have for this season."

While the new faces whether they are be first time recruits or returning players bring excitement to Swan Districts this year, it's the continued development of the emerging brigade coming through who will continue to be given plenty of chances that Bowness is especially looking forward to.

"I'm excited to see how Indi West continues to develop this year and also a young player called Millie Edgar. She is showing exciting signs and has a really bright future," he said.

"A lot of the other girls who will be important players for us have been around for at least a year, but we have a lot of the younger players from last year who we'll look at continuing to improve but it can be hard to single too many of them out without wanting to name everybody.”

There's plenty of change on the coaching staff front as well for the 2024 season with Bowness stepping up from being assistant last year to the main chair.

Craig Hoyer remains on deck on 2024 with Jason Burton, Max Bradley and Rebecca Meirau among the new faces in the coaches' box who will be working with Bowness throughout the season.

"Craig Hoyer has come back from last year to be part of the coaching staff with me and he's our midfield and rucks coach," Bowness said.

"Apart from him, we've got all new assistant coach including Jason Burton who also works at the club in Social Impact, and he is taking the forward, and has been really great so far.

"Max Bradley is an ex-Swans Colts player from a few years back who is our midfields coach and he's been awesome. He's a bit younger so he gets along with the girls and has that natural connection already.

"Taking the backs is Bec Meirau and she's played at Swans before as well so rounds out our coaching staff and I couldn’t be happier with the team we've put together."