Sydney Swans part ways with AFLW coach Scott Gowans, missed finals, latest news

Sydney has parted ways with AFLW coach Scott Gowans following a disappointing end to its season.

Gowans, who had been the senior coach since the club’s inception into the competition in 2022, departs despite being contracted through the 2027 season.

The Swans began their campaign with four-straight wins — building expectations for a finals berth — before crashing out of contention after six losses from their final eight home-and-away games.

Watch live coverage of the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft on Kayo Sports 19-20 Nov | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

The uninspiring end to their regular-season campaign was capped by a disenchanting shock loss to lowly Essendon last Saturday which officially ruled them out of finals calculations.

Sydney players were on Thursday morning informed of Gowans’ exit. In a media release, the club stated Gowans had “called time on his role” to “seek other opportunities”.

“Watching our athletes grow and develop has been truly rewarding – they have come such a long way over the past four seasons, and I believe the group is capable of achieving great things,” Gowans said in a club release on Thursday.

“Building our list from scratch and guiding the team to where it is today is something I am incredibly proud of. While the decision to step away has been a difficult one, the time feels right for new leadership to take the team forward.

“I would like to thank the Swans for the opportunity and wish the team all the success in the future.”

Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich paid tribute to Gowans’ service to the club.

“Scott can be incredibly proud of his distinguished career as the senior coach of our AFLW team. Building a team from scratch is no small feat and we have seen that team grow and improve over the journey so far,” Pavlich said in a statement.

“Beyond his role as a coach, Scott has been a passionate advocate for women’s sport. His tenure has been marked by vision, resilience, and a commitment to empowering his players.

“On behalf of everyone at the club I would like to thank Scott for his enormous contribution to both our club and to women’s football. We wish Scott and Jodie all the very best for the future.”

Gowans and the Swans had set lofty expectations for the club in the pre-season.

“We’re talking finals; we are really comfortable talking about how we want to make finals — if you’re not prepared to say that, I don’t know what you are doing here.

“I just think you may as well say it because we all think it, and quite comfortable in saying that. It’s an expectation. Our benchmark is finals this year, and we’ve planned for a 16-week season, so we’ve planned to the grand final.

“Everything we do, we talk about it, we try to do imagery with it, what it would look like, what it would feel like, so that if it does happen, we’re ready.”

The club says it will immediately begin its search for a new women’s senior coach.

Click here to read article