Former GWS coach Leon Cameron has joined cross-town rivals Sydney, set to commence his new role as Coaching Director of the Swans Academy in November.

Cameron served as senior coach at the Giants for nine years, coaching the club to their maiden grand final appearance in 2019. Prior to his time at GWS, Cameron worked as an assistant coach at both Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs.

The 49-year-old stepped down from his role at the Giants prior to Round 10 of the 2022 season and had been linked to senior coach vacancies around the competition, though expressed his desire to remain in Sydney.

The Swans Academy has over 600 participants, across both male and female programs, with Cameron now set to oversee the talent pathway as coaching director.

Sydney Swans Executive GM of Football, Charlie Gardiner, said that the club were thrilled to welcome Cameron's experience.

โ€œLeon has always been much admired and respected by everyone at our footy club, so we are delighted to be able to appoint him as the new Coaching Director of our Academy,โ€ Gardiner said.

โ€œThe QBE Sydney Swans Academy is an incredibly important pathway program to develop elite menโ€™s and womenโ€™s talent and help grow the code in New South Wales. Over the past 12 years the Academy has helped develop more than 3000 aspiring young boys and girls, whilst also developing elite talent such as the likes of Isaac Heeney, Callum Mills, Nick Blakey, and more recently Ella Heads, Ruby Sargent-Wilson and Kiara Beesley.

โ€œLeon brings a wealth of AFL experience in coaching and high performance, and we are incredibly fortunate to have someone of his standing in the game lead our Academy in the years ahead. We know the athletes and families who are part of our Academy program will be in very good hands.

โ€œOn behalf of the club I would like to welcome Leon, his wife Carolyn, and children Amelia, Harry and Jack to the Sydney Swans family.โ€