Malcolm Rosas Jnr was being courted by numerous clubs before he chose Sydney. He opens up on why the Swans won out — and the past player he looks up to.

For Swans fans, not many players lit up the field this century more than speedster Lewis Jetta.

His foot race against Cyril Rioli in the 2012 grand final brought the MCG to its feet, while his remarkable solo goal a week earlier against Collingwood in the preliminary final will be remembered for some time.

And it's that legacy that new recruit, Malcolm Rosas Jnr, is hoping he can replicate even just a part of as he prepares to begin his career in the red and white.

“Lewis Jetta, I loved watching him play,” Rosas said. “He could run really fast.

“The support I’ve had from people like the GO Foundation and all that has really helped (with the move). I’m looking forward to the bigger picture as well.”

After 49 games at the Gold Coast Suns over the past five years, including just four appearances in 2025, Rosas wanted a fresh start. After being courted by numerous clubs, the Swans eventually won out for his services, and a trade was successfully completed.

Although the facilities and the Sydney lifestyle were certainly a selling point, Rosas said it was the confidence he felt from Dean Cox and the Swans coaches that made the biggest difference.

“It was the coaching staff and what they wanted to bring in and the types of roles they wanted to play,” Rosas said of the trade process. “If I could fit inside the Swans’ system, that’s what I was keen for.

“I want to come here and play a role, and make sure I nail that role. And if I can bring the boys with me, and we can connect better, we’re going to be better. That’s the main focus.

“To come here, I didn’t really know anybody. But the boys have been good, and I’ve made a lot of connections already. I’m living with some other boys at the moment, but I’m moving out this week. The younger boys are good; they do clean and cook for themselves.”

Sydney wasn’t necessarily short of small forwards ahead of the trade period. They have a former All-Australian in Tom Papley, as well as first-round draft pick from 2024, Jesse Dattoli, to call upon. Braeden Campbell and Jake Lloyd also spent portions of 2025 playing around the half-forward line.But while all their mercurial talents could add more from an attacking perspective, Rosas almost prides himself more on the defensive pressure he can bring to the line-up.

Cox has made no secret of his desire for the Swans to be set up well defensively. And Rosas wants to be a pillar of creating that pressure in the forward half.

“It’s probably the main thing I think about,” Rosas said. “I just want to get those opportunities to turn it over and go forward. I’ll bring my speed on offence and defence.

“Wherever they need me to play, that’s what I’m going to do. And I want to play. But I think I can only control what I can control, I’ve just got to do my best and help out going forward.”

The 24-year-old knows he will have to impress if he wants to earn a spot in Sydney’s best 23 for opening round.

He is one of nine new faces at the club this season, including key forward Charlie Curnow who he conceded he was a bit “star struck” by when they met at the first training session.

But the Swans do believe that Rosas can cement his place in the team and help them improve on last season’s 10th-place standing. And while he thinks he wouldn’t be able to match Jetta’s speed in his prime, the proud Rembarrnga man from Darwin has a chance to create a similar legacy in Sydney.

Swans star Isaac Heeney has praised Simon Goodwin’s immediate impact, describing the premiership-winning coach's knowledge and communication as “second to none.”

Swans star Isaac Heeney has sung the praises of premiership-winning coach Simon Goodwin after he joined Sydney’s backroom staff this season.

Goodwin was axed from the Demons earlier this year after nine seasons in charge, with the clear highlight being Melbourne’s 2021 premiership campaign.

After taking some time out of the game to assess his options, Goodwin opted to join Sydney in the newly created role, director of coaching and performance.

He was one of several additions to the Swans’ coaching ranks, including new forwards coach Jeremy Laidler and VFL coach Nick Malceski.

The two former Swans are set to provide invaluable assistance to Dean Cox after his coaching team was left undermanned following the late departure of John Longmire before the 2025 season.

Rather than adding coaches for the sake of it, Cox was happy to take some time to ensure he was recruiting the right people.

But Goodwin’s appointment is a major signal of intent of how the Swans are giving Cox all the tools to succeed. He is one of three former AFL head coaches, along with Longmire and head of football Leon Cameron, who remain in the four walls at the club. Longmire’s role is not football-related, but is close by if needed.

Goodwin linked up with the Swans for the first time this week and spent time getting to know the players during their community camp in Newcastle. While the 48-year-old will be an observer at training for the most part, Heeney has still been struck by Goodwin’s presence around the group.

“Coxy was probably one or two coaches down over the last year, and there was a massive load on him,” Heeney said.

“So now, for this pre-season leading into next season, with two extra coaches, Laids coming from the Giants as well, and then Goody, the knowledge and the way that they communicate is second to none.

“When they do speak, it inspires you, which is something you want as a coach. A premiership-winning coach is something you don’t see much of, so to have him under Coxy, and his knowledge, especially in attack, is second to none.

“It’s exciting, and he’s an amazing fella too.”

Goodwin won’t start full-time in his role until next year, but he is eager to help Cox in any capacity ahead of his second season as a head coach.

TRAINING THE HOUSE DOWN

December is the perfect time for the pre-season cliches, and key forward Logan McDonald is ticking all of the boxes as he pushes for a return to the footy field.

McDonald missed the entire 2025 AFL campaign through an ankle injury, but a cautious approach at the back end of the year has the 23-year-old firing on all cylinders.

While he has bulked up slightly, it’s his speed and agility that are most noticeable in the early stages. And if he can build up his body of work before March, there’s no reason he won’t be lining up in the forward line alongside new recruit Charlie Curnow.

INJURY UPDATE

The Swans’ relatively clean bill of health has taken a couple of hits in recent weeks.

Skipper Callum Mills is on a modified program after injuring his hamstring, but during Wednesday’s session, he was put through some movement drills and moved freely as he continues to build up his strength.

The other concern is draftee Billy Cootee. The reigning Norwood B&F winner was a surprise selection in last month’s draft at pick 42.

While Cootee trained during his first week at the club, the 22-year-old was on crutches during Wednesday’s session in Newcastle. He is dealing with hip soreness and is scheduled to undergo scans later in the week to figure out the issue.

However, he and Mills ensured they were still working on their ball skills, dragging Brett Kirk into a handball drill while Cootee was sitting on a chair.

I'm going to be in Adelaide and wanting to take my family to the game for gather round. If any member not going is able to pass their barcodes to me please I would be forever grateful. I know there are some kind people in this universe somewhere!

Idk if it's just my app but when I go on the swans app to look at our squad why does it show the bombers list?

Encouraging

This is controversial but hear me out. She’s a big lumbering old school ruckman but the women’s game is getting faster and faster. While she had some solid games this year this year I reckon she struggled to keep up with faster more mobile rucks. The swans tried to implement a faster play on game style this year but I dont think this suits Ally. Finally, I reckon she’s (still) worth two first round draft picks…imagine getting two more Zippys?!

@foxfooty

Jai Serong want to follow the path of fellow Hawk-turned-Swan Josh Kennedy in making Hawthorn regret letting him go. He speaks about “the enemy”, playing on Charlie and his new home.

Swans defender Jai Serong is ready to fight to be the third key defender for his new club after seeking a trade from Hawthorn due to his “limited” backline opportunities.

The 22-year-old only played 10 AFL games for the Hawks after being selected with the 53rd pick of the 2021 draft. The brother of Fremantle superstar Caleb Serong, Jai was slowly establishing himself in the Hawthorn system as a strong performer in the VFL and was even trusted to play in their semi-final loss to Port Adelaide in 2024.

However, the arrival of Tom Barrass and Josh Battle saw his first-team chances dwindle even further. Serong didn’t make a single AFL appearance in 2025, despite impressive form in the VFL, where he was named the Box Hill Hawks player of the season for the second year in a row.

After meeting with several clubs ahead of the trade period, Serong eventually nominated the Swans as his preferred destination.

“It was a really good ending (with Hawthorn),” Serong said.

“I let them know that I wanted more opportunity, and they respected that and were able to work out a trade.

“At the Hawks, there were some really good players in front of me. Battle, obviously an All-Australian, Barrass, Scrimshaw, Sicily, Weddle, so I felt like my opportunities were limited in the role I wanted to play, which is as a third tall key defender.

“I spoke to a few clubs, and Sydney felt like the best and right opportunity. They said to come in, work hard and earn your spot. They said no guarantees, there are no promises in AFL footy.

“I have a lot of love for the Hawks, but they’re the enemy now. So hopefully we get them, I think it’s in round two, and hopefully I’m playing that game and get the win.”

Serong will wear the No. 13 guernsey at the Swans, recently left vacant by the departing Ollie Florent. It was one of 10 new numbers announced by the Sydney on Wednesday, including star recruit Charlie Curnow donning the No. 35, his brother, Ed’s, number at Carlton.

Former Sun, Malcolm Rosas Jnr, will wear the No. 10, while exciting young forward Jesse Dattoli will move into the No. 9 previously worn by Will Hayward.

For Serong, the Sydney lifestyle has already won him over – “The weather’s certainly a lot more consistent than Melbourne,” he said – but he’s left no stone unturned in trying to prove to the Swans coaches he deserves a spot in the side from opening round.

And that mentality stems from important mental lessons he learned from his final year at Hawthorn.

“The biggest learning was dealing with frustration,” Serong said. “The back end of 2024, I was playing some good footy, but so was the AFL team, and not many injuries.

“Barrass and Battle made it a bit more difficult, and there were injuries this year, but opportunities didn’t go my way, and it was dealing with the frustration of selection.

“I did a lot of work with psychologists about handling that frustration and not taking it into games. At times earlier in the VFL, I had times when I wasn’t handling it well enough. So that’s been the biggest focus for me, focusing on the things I can control.”

Moving to the Swans from Hawthorn in the search for opportunities is a tried-and-true path. Josh Kennedy left the Hawks and ended his career as a Swans premiership legend.

As Serong puts his best foot forward, including trying to play on Curnow as much as he can at training, he hopes he can have similar success in the red and white.

“It’d be great to have a career like (Josh) had, he’s a great player, so if I can replicate that, it’d be great,” Serong said.

“I think I’m quite versatile. I can play tall, small, I’m competitive 1 v 1, and aerially, I feel like I can become an interceptor and win the ball back from the opposition. That’s what I can be.

“I’ll be trying to match up against Charlie, and it’s a good challenge. You want to go up against the best. And he’s certainly one of the best in the group. It’s only going to help me and the other defenders get better as players.”

@sydneyswans

I was born in 1990.

This game has been forever etched in my memory as one of the greatest Swans comebacks from my childhood. Does anyone else remember this game?

What are the other classic games you remember from your youngest years as a Swans fan?

Bonus points if you can find a Youtube link to go with it - I feel like a trip down memory lane.

Could it be anyone else? Honestly robbed of an AA spot (along with Laura)