Ella Heads

Ella Heads (born 24 June 2003) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Sydney Swans in the AFL Women's (AFLW).

Ella Heads
Personal information
Full name	Ella Heads
Date of birth	24 June 2003
Original team(s)	Inner West Magpies
Debut	Round 1, 2022 season 7, Sydney vs. St Kilda, at North Sydney Oval
Height	175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Club information
Current club	Sydney
Number	12
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2022 (S7)–	Sydney	22 (0)
^1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2023 season.
Career highlights
Rising star nominee: 2023 22under22 team: 2023 Sydney equal games record holder
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Heads is a Sydney local who was signed by the Swans ahead of their inaugural season in 2022 having previously played for the Inner West Magpies—where she won the club's under-18 best and fairest in 2020—and the Swans academy.^[1][2] A forward as a junior, Heads is a rebounding defender with a long kick and a strong intercept mark.^[2]

AFL Women's career

Debuting in the Swans' first ever AFLW game, Heads played all 10 games in 2022 season 7 to finish fifth in club's best and fairest.^[3]

She again played every game in 2023 as the club reached its maiden AFLW finals series. This made her one of only three players to play all 22 games in Sydney's first two seasons.^[4] Her improvement throughout the season was marked by a rising star nomination in round 5 for her 18 disposals and 10 marks against Carlton.^[5] She was then named in the AFL Players Association's 22under22 team at the conclusion of the season.^[6]

References

1. "Swans make trio of AFLW signings". sydneyswans.com.au. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
2. Teuma, Sean (9 November 2023). "Ella spearheads local charge as Swans eye maiden AFLW finals win". Daily Telegraph.
3. "Hamilton crowned inaugural AFLW Club Champion". sydneyswans.com.au. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
4. McKirdy, Lachlan (10 November 2023). "The 'wake-up call' that sparked Sydney's AFLW finals charge". Daily Telegraph.
5. "Eagles ruck, Swans defender nab Rising Star noms". afl.com.au/aflw. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
6. "STAR CYGNETS LEAD FINAL 22UNDER22". AFL Players' Association Limited. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.