SYDNEY has made its first appointment ahead of its entry in to the NAB AFLW competition in 2022/23, with Kate Mahony named executive general manager of AFLW.

Mahony has most recently been head of performance health at the New South Wales Institute of Sport, and has worked with the Australian women's cricket team, the Australian Open and the WTA in sports science.

"We are very excited to have someone of Kate’s calibre leading our AFLW program into its inaugural season," Sydney CEO Tom Harley said.

"With Kate’s knowledge of the national sporting landscape, her extensive experience in high performance sport and particularly her expertise in women’s sport, our program is in unbelievably strong hands.

"We are committed to our inaugural AFLW team having every chance of success when they take the field in late 2022 and I am confident Kate’s appointment will help ensure that is the case."

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Mahony – who begins at Sydney in December – will also work with the Swans academy in both the boys' and girls' programs, where her high performance background will come to the fore.

"It is a really unique opportunity to be there from the start and set the foundations for an elite, high performing AFLW program," Mahony said.

"I am passionate about women’s sport and incredibly excited for the challenge of helping build an AFLW program and culture that supports athletes reach their potential and perform at their very best. 

"AFLW has been a game changer for women’s sport and there is clearly great excitement building around the Swans' inaugural AFLW season. We want to build a successful team that inspires the next generation of female footballers and athletes in New South Wales. 

"There is plenty of work to be done before that first game and I am very much looking forward to getting started."