Tanya Kennedy celebrates victory with coach Colin O'Riordan after the AFLW Elimination Final between Sydney and Western Bulldogs at Henson Park, on November 8, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

SYDNEY will leave "no stone unturned" in its preparation for its semi-final clash with Geelong, coach Colin O'Riordan says.

But from the challenges of GMHBA Stadium and the weather to Geelong's structure, O'Riordan says all that planning will count for little if his side isn't "up to the fight".

"We go through all that in the coaching meetings week to week: how we play a certain ground, what it looks like, the conditions, the opposition, how they're set up, and how to exploit them. You try to leave no stone unturned," O'Riordan said on Tuesday.

"You think about it a little bit, but at the end of the day, you can talk about conditions and ground size all you want; if your mindset isn't up to the fight, none of that matters. It's all about us and our mindset for the game."

After navigating wet and windy conditions in their 29-point elimination final victory over the Western Bulldogs at Henson Park, the Swans are preparing for another weather-affected contest against the Cats on Saturday afternoon.

"I know I spoke after the last game about conditions not really mattering, but we do prepare a lot for the conditions," O'Riordan said.

Heavy rain falls during the Elimination Final between Sydney and Western Bulldogs at Henson Park, on November 8, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

"We look ahead as much as we can. Hopefully, the BoM is as accurate as they usually are. We can take some confidence from the fact that we played in those conditions last weekend.

"Does it change how you play? It does. There's no doubt about it, there's a clear difference between wet-weather footy and dry-weather footy. I think the girls handled that really well at the weekend.

"We have one, two, three plans for separate scenarios, and it's up to us to coach accordingly on game day and make sure our message is clear. I'm a big believer that clarity beats complexity, and you just have to be really clear with your message on how you want the team to play."

The Swans are assessing star midfielder Sofia Hurley, who O'Riordan said is "a little bit sore" following her return from an ankle injury.

Sofia Hurley ahead of the AFLW Elimination Final between Sydney and Western Bulldogs at Henson Park, on November 8, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

Hurley returned for the elimination final on managed minutes after missing seven games following ankle surgery, but O'Riordan defended the decision to bring her straight back for the knockout clash.

"In finals footy, I think you have to roll the dice, especially in an elimination final, to make sure you have the right chance of winning," he said.

Describing Hurley as an "important player for us", O'Riordan said the Swans would monitor her throughout the week before making a call on her availability.

Sydney is also bracing for a response from Geelong following the Cats' narrow four-point loss to Melbourne, with O'Riordan mindful his side's high-contest, high-pressure approach will no longer come as a surprise.

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"Once a team catches on to it and understands how we play, our structure, and what it looks like, you have to get ready for a different challenge, which is what we've done already as a coaching group this morning," he said.

Geelong forward Chloe Scheer had the game on her boot for the Cats, marking 15m out directly in front, only to see her shot drift right with just 15 seconds remaining. Expecting the Swans to enter the contest as underdogs, O'Riordan warned that an opponent looking to bounce back from such an agonising loss is "always the most dangerous".

"[Geelong are] going to be worthy favourites for the game, and they should be, playing back at GMHBA where they're pretty good," he said.

"The odds are going to be against us. So it's up to us to have the right mindset to go down there, compete, and hopefully put a four-quarter performance in that gives us the best chance."

O'Riordan also played down his role in the Swans' momentous tactical moves against the Bulldogs, including sending League-leading goalkicker Chloe Molloy into defence, instead crediting the players for executing the coaching group's plans.

"We're just the ones who come up with the blueprint; the players are the ones who implement it," he said.

"So all the credit should go to them and how they went about it."

Off the field, O'Riordan said the AFLW program continued to feel fully supported by the club amid its broader independent review.

"We've felt support all year from the club," he said.

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"You have to be united in every way you can. We've felt nothing but support from the executive team and the board throughout the whole year.

"We are one club, and you can really feel it through the messages and support you get pre- and post-game, win or loss.

"They leave no stone unturned in giving us the best chance. So again, we're grateful for the support we have from the top."

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