Castlefin native Tanya Kennedy helps Sydney Swans reach AFLW Preliminary Final

Tanya Kennedy’s defensive effort was pivotal as the Sydney Swans secured a place in their first AFLW Preliminary Final.

The Castlefin‑born former Donegal Gaelic footballer, who has lived in Australia since 2012, helped the Swans defeat Geelong in the Semi‑Final on Saturday morning Irish time. The Swans led for most of the game and held a ten‑point advantage at the end of the third quarter before withstanding a late Geelong surge to win by three points.

Kennedy’s performance was highlighted by six tackles, 17 disposals and five clearances from midfield, with pundits on Fox Footy noting her role in limiting Geelong star Georgie Prespakis to 22 disposals, down from her usual 30.6 per game average.

Former AFL player and AFLW coach Daniel Harford praised Kennedy, saying she “won the battle” against Prespakis. Kennedy told AFL.com that she approaches every game with a defensive mindset, aiming to win one‑on‑ones and support the team’s offence when possible.

The Swans will meet North Melbourne in the Preliminary Final on Saturday 21 November at Ikon Park, Melbourne.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Benita Barnard / Pexels.