# 2023 Sydney Swans season

The 2023 Sydney Swans season is the club's 126th season of senior competition in the Australian Football League (AFL) and the 42nd season known as the Sydney Swans.

## Overview

Sydney's 2023 season overview :
| Captain | Coach | Home ground | W-L-D | Ladder | Finals | Best and fairest | Leading goalkicker |
| Callum Mills, Dane Rampe & Luke Parker | John Longmire | SCG | 12-10-1 | 8th | Finals Week 1 | Errol Gulden | Tom Papley |
Dane Rampe & Luke Parker are the co-captains of the Sydney Swans for their fifth season and it is Callum Mills second season as co-captain. It is John Longmire's 13th season as the coach of Sydney. He is currently the longest serving coach of the Sydney Swans. Sydney will play all 11 of their home games at the SCG. As of round 11, Sydney's highest home crowd is 37,052 against Hawthorn in round 2. Sydney's highest away crowd is 71,463 when they lost to the Collingwood Magpies in round 8.

## Squad

Players are listed by guernsey number, and 2023 statistics are for AFL regular season and finals series matches during the 2023 AFL season only. Career statistics include a player's complete AFL career, which, as a result, means that a player's debut and part or whole of their career statistics may be for another club. Statistics are correct as of Sydney vs Carlton round 11 of the 2023 season (27 May 2023) and are taken from AFL Tables.
| No. | Name | AFL debut | Games (2023) | Goals (2023) | Games (SYD) | Goals (SYD) | Games (AFL career) | Goals (AFL career) |
| 1 | Chad Warner | 2020 | 11 | 7 | 50 | 35 | 50 | 35 |
| 2 | Hayden McLean | 2019 | 9 | 8 | 40 | 35 | 40 | 35 |
| 3 | Dylan Stephens | 2020 | 8 | 3 | 38 | 11 | 38 | 11 |
| 4 | Ryan Clarke | 2016 (North Melbourne) | 6 | 2 | 47 | 10 | 87 | 18 |
| 5 | Isaac Heeney | 2015 | 11 | 10 | 165 | 207 | 165 | 207 |
| 6 | Logan McDonald | 2021 | 9 | 16 | 33 | 40 | 33 | 40 |
| 7 | Harry Cunningham | 2012 | 11 | 2 | 172 | 50 | 172 | 50 |
| 8 | James Rowbottom | 2019 | 11 | 3 | 80 | 25 | 80 | 25 |
| 9 | Will Hayward | 2017 | 11 | 12 | 125 | 146 | 125 | 146 |
| 10 | Aaron Francis | 2016 (Essendon) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 60 | 12 |
| 11 | Tom Papley | 2016 | 11 | 20 | 152 | 241 | 152 | 241 |
| 13 | Oliver Florent | 2017 | 11 | 2 | 129 | 39 | 129 | 39 |
| 14 | Callum Mills (c) | 2016 | 9 | 4 | 144 | 23 | 144 | 23 |
| 15 | Sam Wicks | 2020 | 1 | 2 | 40 | 26 | 40 | 26 |
| 16 | Braeden Campbell | 2021 | 11 | 3 | 36 | 6 | 36 | 6 |
| 17 | Will Gould | 2023 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 18 | Jacob Konstanty | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Peter Ladhams | 2019 (Port Adelaide) | 9 | 4 | 20 | 6 | 52 | 27 |
| 20 | Sam Reid | 2010 | 0 | 0 | 181 | 183 | 181 | 183 |
| 21 | Errol Gulden | 2021 | 11 | 7 | 54 | 39 | 54 | 39 |
| 22 | Nick Blakey | 2019 | 11 | 2 | 89 | 34 | 89 | 34 |
| 23 | Lance Franklin | 2005 (Hawthorn) | 8 | 10 | 167 | 477 | 349 | 1057 |
| 24 | Dane Rampe (c) | 2013 | 4 | 0 | 219 | 7 | 219 | 7 |
| 25 | Cooper Vickery | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Luke Parker (c) | 2011 | 11 | 3 | 271 | 193 | 271 | 193 |
| 27 | Justin McInerney | 2019 | 10 | 6 | 63 | 22 | 63 | 22 |
| 28 | William Edwards | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Angus Sheldrick | 2022 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 30 | Tom McCartin | 2018 | 6 | 0 | 101 | 28 | 101 | 28 |
| 31 | Tom Hickey | 2011 (Gold Coast) | 2 | 0 | 39 | 13 | 141 | 45 |
| 32 | Jaiden Magor | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Marc Sheather | 2023 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 34 | Matt Roberts | 2022 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 35 | Caleb Mitchell | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Joel Amartey | 2020 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
| 37 | Corey Warner | 2023 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 39 | Paddy McCartin | 2015 (St Kilda) | 4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 63 | 35 |
| 40 | Cameron Owen | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | Lachlan Rankin | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 42 | Robbie Fox | 2017 | 7 | 1 | 74 | 9 | 74 | 9 |
| 43 | Lewis Melican | 2017 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 1 | 53 | 1 |
| 44 | Jake Lloyd | 2014 | 11 | 2 | 211 | 35 | 211 | 35 |
| 45 | Hugo Hall-Kahan | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 46 | Lachlan McAndrew | 2023 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Bold = Played every game in 2023

### Squad changes
#### In

| No. | Name | Position | Previous Club | via |
| 28 | William Edwards | Key Defender | Academy | category B rookie selections |
| 10 | Aaron Francis | Key Defender | Essendon | trade |
| 18 | Jacob Konstanty | Medium Forward | Gippsland U18 | AFL national draft, first round (pick No. 20) |
| 32 | Jaiden Magor | Medium Forward | South Adelaide | AFL rookie draft, second round (pick No. 31) |
| 35 | Caleb Mitchell | Midfielder | Murray U18 | AFL national draft, third round (pick No. 40) |
| 40 | Cameron Owen | Key Forward | Tasmania U18 | AFL rookie draft, first round (pick No. 17) |
| 25 | Cooper Vickery | Medium Defender | Gippsland U18 | AFL national draft, second round (pick No. 27) |

#### Out

| No. | Name | Position | New Club | via |
| 32 | James Bell | Midfielder | - | delisted |
| 12 | Josh Kennedy | Midfielder | - | retired |
| 10 | Sam Naismith | Ruck | - | delisted |
| 35 | Barry O'Connor | Defender | - | delisted |
| 38 | Colin O'Riordan | Defender | - | delisted |
| 25 | Ben Ronke | Forward | - | delisted |
| 18 | Callum Sinclair | Ruck | - | retired |
| 28 | Lewis Taylor | Midfielder Forward | - | delisted |

## Season
### Pre-season

Sydney's 2023 practice match and AAMI Community Series fixtures :
| Date and local time | Opponent | Scores | Scores | Scores | Venue | Ref |
| Date and local time | Opponent | Home | Away | Result | Venue | Ref |
| Friday, 24 February (12:00 pm) | Brisbane Lions | 15.9 (99) | 8.6 (54) | Won by 45 points | Moore Park | |
| Friday, 3 March (7:10 pm) | Carlton | 15.7 (97) | 7.12 (54) | Won by 43 points | Blacktown ISP | |

### Regular season

| Round | Date and local time | Opponent | Home | Away | Result | Venue | Attendance | Ladder position | Ref |
| Ref |||
| 1 | Saturday, 18 March (8:00 pm) | Gold Coast | 9.7 (61) | 16.14 (110) | Won by 49 points | Heritage Bank Stadium [A] | 13,648 | 2nd | |
| 2 | Sunday, 26 March (1:10 pm) | Hawthorn | 17.16 (118) | 4.13 (37) | Won by 81 points | SCG [H] | 37,052 | 1st | |
| 3 | Sunday, 2 April (3:20 pm) | Melbourne | 21.8 (134) | 12.12 (84) | Lost by 50 points | MCG [A] | 42,423 | 5th | |
| 4 | Saturday, 8 April (7:30 pm) | Port Adelaide | 9.10 (64) | 9.12 (66) | Lost by 2 points | SCG [H] | 31,686 | 6th | |
| 5 | Friday, 14 April (7:40 pm) | Richmond | 11.12 (78) | 18.14 (122) | Won by 44 points | Adelaide Oval [A] | 42,134 | 5th | |
| 6 | Saturday, 22 April (7:25 pm) | Geelong | 20.10 (130) | 5.7 (37) | Lost by 93 points | GMHBA Stadium [A] | 23,134 | 10th | |
| 7 | Saturday, 29 April (2:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney | 16.10 (106) | 17.5 (107) | Lost by 1 point | SCG [H] | 31,615 | 11th | |
| 8 | Sunday, 7 May (3:20 pm) | Collingwood | 11.11 (77) | 6.12 (48) | Lost by 29 points | MCG [A] | 71,463 | 11th | |
| 9 | Saturday, 13 May (1:45 pm) | Fremantle | 13.8 (86) | 16.7 (103) | Lost by 17 points | SCG [H] | 28,927 | 14th | |
| 10 | Saturday, 20 May (1:45 pm) | North Melbourne | 14.6 (90) | 14.9 (93) | Won by 3 points | Marvel Stadium [A] | 21,003 | 12th | |
| 11 | Friday, 26 May (7:50 pm) | Carlton | 11.11 (77) | 6.15 (51) | Won by 26 points | SCG [H] | TBC | TBC | |
| 12 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | | Bye |
| 13 | Thursday, 8 June (7:10 pm) | St Kilda | 9.12 (66) | 12.8 (80) | Lost by 14 points | SCG [H] | | | |
| 14 | Friday, 16 June (7:50 pm) | Brisbane Lions | | | | The Gabba [A] | | | |
| 15 | Saturday, 24 June (4:35 pm) | West Coast | | | | SCG [H] | | | |
| 16 | Friday, 30 June (7:50 pm) | Geelong | | | | SCG [H] | | | |
| 17 | Thursday, 6 July (7:20 pm) | Richmond | | | | MCG [A] | | | |
| 18 | Thursday, 13 July (7:20 pm) | Western Bulldogs | | | | SCG [H] | | | |
| 19 | Saturday, 22 July (5:40 pm) | Fremantle | | | | Optus Stadium [A] | | | |
| 20 | Saturday, 29 July (7:25 pm) | Essendon | | | | Marvel Stadium [A] | | | |
| 21 | Saturday, 5 August (7:30 pm) | Greater Western Sydney | | | | GIANTS Stadium [A] | | | |
| 22 | Saturday, 12 August (2:10 pm) | Gold Coast | | | | SCG [H] | | | |
| 23 | Saturday, 19 August (7:10 pm) | Adelaide | | | | Adelaide Oval [A] | | | |
| 24 | TBD | Melbourne | | | | SCG [H] | | | |

### Ladder

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Collingwood (P) | 23 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 2142 | 1687 | 127.0 | 72 | Finals series |
| 2 | Brisbane Lions | 23 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 2180 | 1771 | 123.1 | 68 | Finals series |
| 3 | Port Adelaide | 23 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 2149 | 1906 | 112.7 | 68 | Finals series |
| 4 | Melbourne | 23 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 2079 | 1660 | 125.2 | 64 | Finals series |
| 5 | Carlton | 23 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 1922 | 1697 | 113.3 | 54 | Finals series |
| 6 | St Kilda | 23 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 1775 | 1647 | 107.8 | 52 | Finals series |
| 7 | Greater Western Sydney | 23 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 2018 | 1885 | 107.1 | 52 | Finals series |
| 8 | Sydney | 23 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 2050 | 1863 | 110.0 | 50 | Finals series |
| 9 | Western Bulldogs | 23 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1919 | 1766 | 108.7 | 48 | |
| 10 | Adelaide | 23 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 2193 | 1877 | 116.8 | 44 | |
| 11 | Essendon | 23 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 1838 | 2050 | 89.7 | 44 | |
| 12 | Geelong | 23 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 2088 | 1855 | 112.6 | 42 | |
| 13 | Richmond | 23 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 1856 | 1983 | 93.6 | 42 | |
| 14 | Fremantle | 23 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 1835 | 1898 | 96.7 | 40 | |
| 15 | Gold Coast | 23 | 9 | 14 | 0 | 1839 | 2006 | 91.7 | 36 | |
| 16 | Hawthorn | 23 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 1686 | 2101 | 80.2 | 28 | |
| 17 | North Melbourne | 23 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 1657 | 2318 | 71.5 | 12 | |
| 18 | West Coast | 23 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 1418 | 2674 | 53.0 | 12 | |

### Awards and milestone

* Round 1 - Harry Cunningham (50 goals)
* Round 2 - Isaac Heeney (200 Goals)
* Round 5 - Will Gould (AFL Debut)
* Round 5 - Corey Warner (AFL Debut)
* Round 6 - Aaron Francis (Sydney Debut)
* Round 7 - Marc Sheather (AFL Debut)
* Round 7 - Tom McCartin (100 Games)
* Round 9 - Tom Papley (150 Games)
* Round 10 - Chad Warner (50 Games)