Sydney Swans AFLW train on SCG

The team have been training for a month now as they look ahead to their first season in the AFLW competition and their opening round match on Saturday August 27 against St Kilda.

However, Monday night was the first time the team trained on the SCG and several members of the UNSW sporting community were there to witness it - including Elite Athlete Manager Helen Bryson, Director Student Wellbeing Neil Morris and Faculty of Medicine & Health lecturer Amanda Burdett. 

The SCG has seen many historic moments for the club over the past 40 years and the inaugural women's team was welcomed onto the club's home ground by the men's team and Sydney Swans staff.

The team will play their Round 3 match against the GIANTS in the first AFLW Sydney Derby on the SCG.

Sydney Swans AFLW Head Coach Scott Gowans said the night was a special one for the side, highlighting the bond between the womens and mens programs.

"I think the atmosphere here sets it up nicely to give the girls a feel of what it might be like," Gowans said.

"The process is trying to make them imagine and feel what it's like to play in front of crowds and at big stadiums, which a lot haven't experienced, so this will help achieve that. Tonight is a really special event."

"The branding around the SCG, the night is a beautiful night and nice and still so to be able to showcase their skills. A part of the Sydney Swans culture is a real family-type atmosphere so we are really lucky tonight embraces that." Gowans added.

A number of the Swans recruits are set to study at UNSW as part of the Elite Athlete Program and the formal partnership between the two Sydney institutions.

The Sydney Swans AFLW team had their first training session at the SCG this week. Photo: Phil Hillyard / Sydney Swans