SMALL losses have turned into big gains for Sydney AFLW coach Scott Gowans, ultimately landing two of the best Victorian talents through the draft.
"We thought it was going to be difficult, just with the time frames because you're asking people to move their lives," Gowans told the Credit to the Girls podcast.
"In some cases, they've got a really secure job outside of AFLW, they've got a partner who's also got a job, a rent, a mortgage, all those things, and to do it in four weeks, four and a half weeks, it was always going to be difficult."
After missing out on some big name targets during the expansion period, largely due to time and lifestyle constraints, the Swans turned their attention to prospective draftees.
"We were going to be really careful with who we engage, so we picked two, and the two were Montana Ham and Sofia Hurley. Then we thought we'd go for one first and see how we go, what we learn from it, then engage the other one."
"We flew down and spoke to Montana and her mum at their house. We didn't sell ourselves; we basically just had a chat. We said we've got this idea, it's probably crazy but if you don't ask you don't know."
EPISODE GUIDE
- 1:05 Sydney AFLW Coach Scott Gowans joins the show
- 1:40 Gowans on his side's first training session on the SCG
- 2:20 The Swans' list build strategy
- 4:07 The preseason time crunch
- 5:00 Gowans' coaching philosophy
- 7:25 Why the Swans targeted the talent in the VFLW for its inaugural side
- 9:25 Missing out on marquee players
- 11:27 How the Ham & Hurley draft nominations played out
- 13:40 The responsibility to develop local NSW talent
- 15:35 Brooke Lochland's role in the Swans' Academy
- 17:15 The most exciting part of preseason so far
- 18:32 Bringing groups of players from VIC and NSW together
- 20:30 What Gowans hopes the Swans can achieve in season seven
