Sydney Swans' inaugural AFLW team a chance for regional players to chase their dream

Gabby Mooney has been forever bouncing around Aussie rules football teams to «make friends and play footy», but this weekend she will be competing for a chance at the big time.

The Sydney Swans AFL club has won a licence to enter its first AFLW team in the 2023 season. 

The Swans will join the national competition when it returns in December, but selections start as early as this month. 

A new summer series will feature three stages of competition, starting with the Greater Western Sydney Giants against the Sydney Swans women's teams.

From there, talent scouts from both clubs will be watching their every move to begin 2023 selections.

Sydney Swans Academy leader Chris Smith said the club wanted to throw a wide net for talent.

«There'll be 120 women competing in this summer series over the next four to five weeks,» Mr Smith said. 

«We then choose a representative squad of 35 women, and another 35 women to do a development program.

»They'll then all get to play in the winter season, and by the end of that we'll have a really good idea as to who will represent us as formal members of our first AFLW team."

Although the club has featured in under-18 AFLW competitions, it will be the Swans' first mature-age team. 

«We class anyone above 18 [years of age] as mature, but really these women are mainly 20 to 25,» Mr Smith said. 

Along with aspiring players from Sydney, the summer series will also feature competitors from regional New South Wales. 

April Devine, Brianna McFarlane, Cass Ronalds from the Coffs Harbour Breakers, Lilli-Yana Moody from the Sawtell Toormina Saints, Alice Mitchell from the Gunnedah Bulldogs, and Mooney from the Inverell Saints will travel to Sydney to compete.

For players like Mooney it is a once in a lifetime shot at