AFL: Alice Mitchell signs on with the Sydney Swans AFLW team

The Gunnedah star is the first player from the region to be signed by an AFLW club and understandably over the moon to have signed with the team she supported as a youngster starting out with footy.

"When it was announced last year that the Swans would be entering the AFLW competition I set myself the target of playing for them. I've worked really hard during the off season to best prepare myself ahead of the Summer Series and now that I've signed on with the club I'm over the moon," Mitchell said.

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"Now that I'm part of the Swans set up I'm really focused on being named in the first team to play in an AFLW match."

Community Football & Competition Manager for Northern NSW Paul Taylor said it is great news no only for Mitchell but also for "female footy in the region".

"We often say that 'if you can't see it, you can't be it', and with the Youth Girls competition starting this season Alice joining the Swans will help drive further registrations as girls realise they can go all the way to the AFLW from the North West," he said.

Mitchell's selection comes on the back of a string of impressive performances for the Swans Red side during the recent Summer Series.

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Sydney Swans AFLW senior coach Scott Gowans said it was credit to local Gunnedah volunteer Alan Martin for alerting them to Mitchell.

"Alice is a tall defender who can go forward. She has elite hands and a left foot that can find targets. We like that she takes the game on, and she works hard to grow her craft," he said.

"We watched her closely during the first game of the Summer Series and gave her some feedback on a few things to try. She executed on those in her performance in the Summer Series matches in Canberra, and that got her over the line."

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