The Lady Swans are heading off for their inaugural tour to Hong Kong to face the Hong Kong Dragons!
A Growing Rivalry
The match promises to be a close fought battle, with the two teams meeting in last year’s Asian Championships!
The Ladies have been in good form at training in recent weeks. With a strong emphasis on game strategy and with players settling into their roles, the team is really coming together. An increased focus on fitness may be the edge that the Lady Swans need to get the win over the Dragons.
The Team
Like we saw in Cambodia about a week ago, tours are tough and every player matters! The Swan’s squad for Hong Kong will be boosted by the inclusion of several of the Malaysian Warriors.
The Swans midfield will be lead by Chia and Naomi, two Ladies who are very strong in every contest. The Warrior’s Lyndsay Clark will be a welcome addition to the midfield, playing in her last game before moving down under. Josephine, our Swedish Recruit from the North, will make the journey to Hong Kong looking to repeat her performance from the recent inter-club game in Vung Tau.
The Lady Swans first-ever captain Nona will be flying in from Singapore, ready to hit the field at CHB and give it everything she has got. She’ll be joined by Racheal Harmston and Jen Heal, a seasoned Gaelic player and one of the Warrior’s most reliable defenders. The Warrior’s Bec Simpson, wife to long-serving warrior Ben ‘Eggs’ Simpson, has the height to take strong marks and may also line up in defence.
Lu will spearhead the attack for the Lady Swans along with Club favourites, Cindy and Alex. With a recent spike in her performance in Cambodia, Alex will be looking to make her teammates proud with another solid performance on the field. No-one can doubt Cindy’s love of this great game or her commitment to the Swannies. She’s come back from recent injury and is eager to do what she does best – standing tall #notsotall, in the forward line, waiting to kick a sneaky last-minute goal!
The Warrior’s Nikki Cavil offers options in attack or defence. Jenny Mac will also be in the touring squad, but with an extra boy about to join the family, she’ll assist with coaching / interchange / cheerleading / hydration and all the other things that are essential to get the team over the line!
Farewells
It is with a heavy heart that we will say goodbye to three of our most loved players after this match.
Firstly, the Kiwi duo Lu & Bex. They’ll be leaving the Swannies in June to head back to New Zealand, but they are super stoked for their last run out in the black & white jerseys and have already made plans to dominate the AFLW scene back in Auckland.
Lu has been a key player for the Lady Swans, a powerhouse in the forward line, taking marks, left, right & center and smashing the ball through the uprights all season. She will definitely be hungry for more in her last match out with the Lady Swans. The only question is how many “sex’s” (6’s – for us that don’t speak fluent Kiwi), can she smash past the Dragons?
Bex will certainly be missed in defence. There’s not much gets past this girl, a solid defender with true grit and determination. It’s also no secret that Bex is longing to kick her first goal. Could a run out in the forward line give Bex the golden goal she deserves, in what would be a fairy tale ending to her journey with the Lady Swans?
It is also the last run out for one of our newest recruits, Rachael, who will return to Brisbane after a brief, but memorable, six months with the Swannies. With outstanding performances both on and off the bar – sorry, I mean field, Rach’s enthusiasm for the game and team spirit will be a great loss for the team.
Bex (top left), Rach & Lu (middle left) in the recent Ferns vs Kookaburras at ANZAC Day
All of our departing girls are hoping to go out with a bang for their last match with for the Swans. They’ll be on top form and hungry for a win, wishing to make their last appearance in the black and white jersey a memory to cherish!
We wish all our departing members all the best for the future and remember, “Once a Swanny, always a Swanny!”
