Despite doubling its wins tally from the previous year, Sydney didn’t quite reach its potential in 2024 given the ability the Swans had on their list and the dominance their AFL team showed for most of the year
BY THE NUMBERS
Position: 13th
W-L-D (%): 8-9-1 (102.1%)
Players used: 50
Played every match: 2 – Will Green, Jaiden Magor
AFL players used: 25 (256 matches)
Ex-AFL players: 2 (15 matches)
Debutants: 15 – Hugo Birks, Ben Ashley-Cooper, Joel Cochran, Ben Edwards, Koby Grass, Will Green, Tom Hanily, Joe Harrison, James Lugsdin, Charlie McCartin, Cooper McClennan, Phillip Moi Moi, Luke Parker*, Willem Smit, Patrick Snell. * earlier played NEAFL
STAR PERFORMERS
Best and Fairest: 1st: Caleb Mitchell (93 votes), 2nd: Aaron Francis (85 votes), 3rd: Ben Edwards (84), 4th: Pete Ladhams (77), 5th: Joel Hamling (75)
J.J. Liston Trophy: Pete Ladhams (10 votes), Gus Sheldrick (9), Aaron Francis (5), Joel Hamling (5), Luke Parker (5), Corey Warner (5)
Coaches MVP Award: Aaron Francis (38 votes), Caiden Cleary (30), Pete Ladhams (30), Gus Sheldrick (28), Caleb Mitchell (27)
Leading Goalkickers: Joel Hamling (31), Pete Ladhams (16), Jacob Konstanty (14), Phil Moi Moi (14), Matty Lloyd (12)
Smithy’s VFL Team of the Year: Aaron Francis (centre half back)
STAT LEADERS
(Averages – minimum 6 matches)
Disposals: Gus Sheldrick 24.4, Ben Edwards 21.3, Caiden Cleary 21.2, Corey Warner 20.8, Caleb Mitchell 20.6
Contested possessions: Gus Sheldrick 11.7, Pete Ladhams 11.3, Ben Edwards 10.0, Corey Warner 9.4, Caiden Cleary 9.0
Kicks: Aaron Francis 15.5, Gus Sheldrick 15.4, Jaiden Magor 13.8, Caleb Mitchell 12.9, Pete Ladhams 12.5
Handballs: Caiden Cleary 10.6, Ben Edwards 10.1, Corey Warner 9.4, Gus Sheldrick 9.0, Caleb Mitchell 7.7
Marks: Aaron Francis 7.1, Joel Hamling 6.2, Caleb Mitchell 4.9, Jake Bartholomaeus 4.7, Hamish Morrison 4.6
Tackles: Caiden Cleary 4.7, Gus Sheldrick 4.1, Jordan Endemann 4.1, Jacob Konstanty 4.0, Lachlan McAndrew 3.7
Hitouts: Lachlan McAndrew 19.6, Pete Ladhams 13.8, Will Green 8.2, Sam Reid 1.8, Aaron Francis 0.1, Ben Edwards 0.1, Joel Hamling 0.1
Clearances: Gus Sheldrick 6.4, Pete Ladhams 5.0, Corey Warner 5.0, Ben Edwards 4.6, Caleb Mitchell 3.4
Inside-50s: Gus Sheldrick 4.8, Ben Edwards 4.4, Matty Lloyd 3.8, Corey Warner 3.8, Nick Shipley 3.6
Rebound-50s: Aaron Francis 5.2, Will Edwards 5.0, Jaiden Magor 4.0, Max Geddes 2.7, Gus Sheldrick 2.6, Hamish Morrison 2.5
What went right: Impressive away wins over top-four teams Footscray and Southport showed what the Swans were capable of at their best. Aaron Francis had the best state league level year of his career in defence to earn Team of the Year honours and ably fill-in at AFL level when he was required. Joel Hamling’s move into attack was a success, Ben Edwards proved an impressive recruit from Claremont and Caleb Mitchell had a strong first year to win the best and fairest. They pushed most of the best teams as well as they improved from four wins to eight and a draw and lay the platform to launch a finals bid in 2025.
What went wrong: For the most part, the inability to finish off close games was once again a bugbear for the Swans, going 3-6-1 in games decided by 15 points or less. Inconsistency also plagued them as they had the ability to rack up runs of goals at times, but also give up the same. They only got five games out of star recruit Will Kelly and 10 from Nic Shipley, while injuries to AFL-listers Gus Sheldrick, Corey Warner, Harry Arnold, Jack Buller and Patrick Snell were also costly. Couldn’t beat the teams they were competing with for a spot in the bottom of the 10, which resulted in the 13th-place finish
Summary: A middling year for the Swans and one they’d probably be disappointed with given the ability they had on their list and the dominance their AFL team showed for most of the year. Eight wins and a draw is probably unders for the ability they had, even though there were reasons with injuries to their key players mentioned above. Finishing 13th is about right given the inconsistency throughout the year but they will want to push forward next year under new coach and club legend Jarrad McVeigh.
Grade: 4.5/10
2024 SMITHY'S VFL SEASON REVIEWS
GWS Giants
North Melbourne
Port Melbourne
Casey Demons
Coburg
Carlton
Collingwood
Northern Bullants
