WAFL Ones To Watch : Sam Swadling (West Perth)Monday, May 12, 2025 - 10:32 AM

Sam Swadling’s beginning to 2025 would rank up there among the best ever with the quality he is producing for West Perth.

Through five games, the Falcons’ midfielder is averaging more than 34 disposals, including 37 per game over his last four outings.

The Whitford prospect was recently named in the Western Australian Under 18’s state squad ahead the National Championships after taking his game to another level this season.

In 2024, Swadling was one of West Perth’s most consistent performers as a bottom-ager but took a backseat to the star talent of Kayle Gerreyn.

Swadling still managed to find plenty of the football though, averaging over 19 disposals per game and kicking 15 goals for the year as a 17-year-old.

Now, as a top-age prospect and with a more prominent role through the Falcons’ midfield, Swadling is finding the football with ease.

Currently he has recorded 40 more disposals than any other player in the WAFL Colts competition.

As a player, Swadling is taller than most midfielders, listed at 187cm, and he uses this height to his advantage by being able to see over opponents in contests and flick handballs out to teammates with impressive accuracy.

Swadling’s clean hands at the coalface, combined with his ability to shrug off would-be tacklers and evade opponents, make him a damaging inside presence.

Even when locked in the tightest of tackles, Swadling is often still able to get a hand free to dispose of the ball and keep West Perth in motion.

Another of Swadling’s strengths is ability to cover the ground.

The right footer is an outstanding aerial threat, and his overheard marking is another strength, allowing him to contest for the ball from kicks down the line, as well as around the ground in fast and slow play.

Swadling appears to always have time, a trait most commonly attributed to Scott Pendlebury, another taller midfielder.

The hard-working talent has a serious work ethic, and his gut running to get space around the ground is what allows him so much of the football, because while his strength is his grunt work at stoppages, he also wins just as many uncontested possessions.

He is always a threat to win the ball and is able to apply pressure to the ball carrier with his great tackling ability too.

Swadling averages 4.5 tackles per game and has won plenty of ‘holding-the-ball’ free kicks this season with smart tackling technique.

Another area of Swadling’s game that makes him a tantalising prospect is his work inside 50.

Last year as a bottom ager Swadling needed to bide his time by playing mostly as a forward, where he became a serious scoreboard threat.

His 15 goals last year were fourth among West Perth players.

Swadling’s height allows him to be a dangerous forward option, especially given his aerial prowess.

He rarely loses one-on-one marking contests or gets out-marked in pack situations and knows where the goals are at all times.

Despite his dominance against Subiaco through the midfield in Round 3 this season, Swadling also spent time forward where he hit the scoreboard after outmarking his opponent in the goal square and provided a fantastic target inside 50 for the Falcons.

The right-footed Swadling is not a quick player, but rather a silky mover who glides across the ground and always seems to have an extra second to dispose of the ball.

Curiously he is more than capable on his left foot, but an area for improvement would be his ball-use.

Perhaps his uniquely high ball drop affects his kicking at times, but if Swadling can clean up his disposal by foot slightly, he will have nearly no areas of his game that need work, which is a scary proposition.

Looking ahead to the National Championships, Western Australia have a mightily impressive squad for 2025.

Swadling should certainly spend time through the midfield but will likely have to play some games as a forward as well, so he will hope to be able to hit the scoreboard in those games as well.

Swadling is definitely a draftable player and has had an incredible start to the season.

It will be fascinating to see how he fares though the Championships beginning in June, and whether he forces his way into West Perth’s senior side at any point.

Keep an eye on this talented youngster as he continues to stamp his authority on the WAFL Colts competition.