A Shark becomes a Giant

Emma Swanson, the Co-Captain of the East Fremantle Women's Football Club, has been signed by Greater Western Sydney Giants as a marquee player for the inaugural women’s league in 2017.

Marquee players are the foundation members and essentially the faces of each team. They are also expected to be standout players in the competition. Each marquee player receives $25,000 for the two-month season, a relocation bonus of up to $10,000 and other incentives including club based roles and occupational opportunities.

Swanson, an exceptional midfielder and 4x best and fairest winner, was chosen as co-captain in her first year at East Fremantle. 21-year-old Swanson is not only an excellent player but also an AFL game development officer, leading both on and off the field.

“It’s an exciting time for women’s footy in general and to be a part of it next year is awesome,” said Swanson.

“Being at the Sharks this season has helped me develop on a personal level,” Swanson said.

“Having Jo Beechey as a co-captain to learn from who is a little older and who has been captain for a while has definitely helped my leadership and then to be thrown in the deep end and captain solo while Beechey has been injured also made me develop a bit faster as well,”

“Up until 14 months ago we thought a national comp would happen in 2020, so when it was announced to be in 2017 the whole football community has stepped up a bit and the girls have been putting their hand up to be selected,”

“GWS will start training along with most the other clubs at the start of November, for the season starting in February and March,”

“East Freo is swimming with talent and if it’s not the 2017 season there will definitely be girls who will be putting their hands up for 2018 and the future seasons,”

Swanson's role extends beyond the playing field and she will be involved in developing football in NSW. “As part of the role of a marquee player you are also an ambassador where we will be over there in the community trying to grow the game, heading out to schools and speaking to kids about footy,”

“We’ll go back and play in a local club and competition to help the development there so we won’t be going into the top team in NSW but someone who is coming up through the ranks and might have a lot of young girls at the club”

“I think it’s about 2027 as much as it is about 2017, and in 10 years’ time we can look back and say we started this, and hopefully so many girls get the opportunity in the future”. 

A lottery style draft to fill the remaining 25 spots per team is set for October. The women’s AFL competition will be an eight-week season that includes six home and away rounds, two semi-finals and a Grand Final.