Sydney has boosted its football department with the acquisition of Wayne Campbell (Gold Coast) and Jeremy Laidler (GWS) for the 2026 season.
Campbell departed the Gold Coast Suns, flagging his intentions to return to New South Wales for family reasons.
The former Richmond player joined the Suns ahead of the 2022 season and helped steer the side to its maiden finals appearance in 2025, as well as welcome 10 academy players and achieve the best win-loss record in the club's history.
He has served as Head of Umpiring at the AFL, GM of Football Operations for GWS, and Director of Football at Sydney University.
Campbell will oversee key areas, including the Sydney Academy coaching, high performance, and operations.
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"I have absolutely loved my time at the Gold Coast Suns. To see a club mature the way it has and play a role in that is something I'm incredibly proud of – the feeling after the Elimination Final win against Fremantle is what why we love the game so much," Campbell said.
"It was an incredibly hard decision to make, given my passion for my role and this club. However, the pull of a role closer to my family won out.
"I will always be grateful for the opportunity afforded to me by the Gold Coast Suns."
It leaves Gold Coast, along with Port Adelaide, as the only clubs that haven't filled the GM of Football position, as Chris Davies departed the latter to join Carlton.
Laidler returns to the club after a stint at the Giants as an assistant coach, looking after the forward line.
He first joined the Swans in 2014 after periods at Geelong and Carlton, playing 87 matches in total, including the 2016 decider.
Laidler also took on the VFL senior coaching role following his retirement in 2017, a position he held for five years before crossing to the Giants.
"Jeremy is a fantastic addition to our coaching group, and it's great to have him back at the Swans," Sydney's EGM AFL Football, Leon Cameron, said.
"Spending the past three years at the Giants has seen Jeremy develop his coaching skills, and he brings a wealth of football knowledge from his time both playing and coaching."
Sydney Swans AFL 2026 coaching panel
Dean Cox – Senior Coach
Simon Goodwin – Director of Coaching
Ben Mathews – Senior Assistant Coach
Jeremy Laidler – Assistant Coach
Mark McVeigh – Assistant Coach
Amon Buchanan – Assistant Coach
