Women's Footy AFLW 2025

[MelbourneGWS]

Unfortunately we lost against St Kilda 16 (2.4) to 30 (4.6) at Henson Park. It was an interesting 8-9 score at half time, before St Kilda pulled away although injuries to 2 of their players gave us a chance in the last quarter. Our goals were from Fleur Davis and Garnett. We are currently 15th on the ladder, with just 4 games left in the home and away season.

We next play Geelong in Geelong next week, so hopefully our AFLW team will be inspired to replicate our AFL heroics there!

 

[MelbourneGWS]

The AFL website write up for our match today.

As hard as the Giants tried in the absence of experienced stars Alyce Parker and Alicia Eva, their skill errors again proved to be their downfall highlighted by a defensive 50 turnover in the first quarter that led to Lambert’s first goal.

A source of optimism for the struggling Giants came in the form of second-year midfielder Kaitlyn Srhoj who had a career-high 27 disposals to go with eight tackles.

Injuries sour Saints' fourth win in a row

St Kilda won its fourth match in a row, but it came at a cost with injuries to two important players

www.afl.com.au

 

[MelbourneGWS]

Of possible interest, our 2025 AFLW crowds for our 4 home games, with Henson Park games against Fremantle and Port still to come.

• Manuka 2 games = total attendances of 4,393 (average 2,197)
• Henson Park 2 games = total attendances of 3,075 (average 1,538)
• total attendance 7,468 (average 1,867)

 

[captainMyCaptain]

The AFL website write up for our match today.

As hard as the Giants tried in the absence of experienced stars Alyce Parker and Alicia Eva, their skill errors again proved to be their downfall highlighted by a defensive 50 turnover in the first quarter that led to Lambert’s first goal.

A source of optimism for the struggling Giants came in the form of second-year midfielder Kaitlyn Srhoj who had a career-high 27 disposals to go with eight tackles.

Injuries sour Saints' fourth win in a row

St Kilda won its fourth match in a row, but it came at a cost with injuries to two important players

www.afl.com.au

Wouldn't be surprised if Srhoj won our b&f this year

 

[Ichabod Noodle]

Just home from the game and I have thoughts…

This will be a bit of a long ramble so please bear with me.

We were really missing Parker, Eva & Zreika. Our skill errors and poor decision making are glaring (there’s weren’t too much better but they seemed hungrier and just ever so slightly better than us) their positional play was also a lot better. When we can nail it, we can play some really attractive footy, but we just don’t nail it enough.

I’ve also noticed that our players are really one sided. Their skill off the non-preferred is virtually non existent. Way too many times they had to wheel around to get on their preferred & ran straight into trouble. Not everyone can be great off both feet, few are, but some basic level of competency is needed for tight spots.

Also, very floaty. Kicks and handballs high slow & floating lets the oppo in when they shouldn’t be.

Nobody kicked a goal to one end of the ground. We kicked nothing to St Kilda’s 3 behinds. There wasn’t a howling gale or anything that could reasonably explain it.

Umpiring was abysmal, but both ways, no real complaints there.

Now…

Henson Park…

It’s not Western Sydney. It’s a pain in the arse to get to and when you do there’s nowhere to park. Heaven help them if they ever get a decent crowd.

The atmosphere was convivial and relaxed - which in some games is precisely what you don’t want.

How many games this year did the crowd get us over the line? More than a few. Henson is not the ground you want in a tight game where you need the crowd to lift you.

We were on the hill, like everyone else, spread out lounging on blankets, enjoying the afternoon. Great passages of play or individual efforts like a great mark or a strong tackle were met with polite applause. They tried a couple of times to get a Giants chant going to abject failure.

Compare that to somewhere like BISP where most of the crowd is in the grandstand. As a crowd, you feed off the vibe of those around you. If they’re on their feet, you probably ate too. If they’re yelling encouragement, so are you. We were 20 feet away from our nearest neighbours who were also lounging on blankets enjoying the afternoon sun. You also have a section of bleachers that for the most part wasn’t being used meaning most of the crowd was a fair way from the fence and a long way from most of the action. Great position to watch (and analyse) not so great to get involved.

In a grandstand you’re sitting and it’s easier to rise to your feet and ‘erupt’. I’m old, and if I’m spread out on a blanket, it takes time and effort to stand up. The grandstand also focuses and amplifies the sound as it bounces off the back wall and the roof. So the cheering is louder and the chants easier to start and maintain.

If you want your crowd to be loud and actively involved - not merely pleasantly watching on - then Henson is unsuitable.

It was an enjoyable afternoon watching the footy, but I’m really not a fan of Henson Park as an AFL venue.

If they can’t use BISP, then they need to build a boutique grandstand at Tom Wills & play there.

Anyway, ramble over.

 

[MelbourneGWS]

Just home from the game and I have thoughts…

Now…

Henson Park…

It’s not Western Sydney. It’s a pain in the arse to get to and when you do there’s nowhere to park. Heaven help them if they ever get a decent crowd.

The atmosphere was convivial and relaxed - which in some games is precisely what you don’t want.

How many games this year did the crowd get us over the line? More than a few. Henson is not the ground you want in a tight game where you need the crowd to lift you.

We were on the hill, like everyone else, spread out lounging on blankets, enjoying the afternoon. Great passages of play or individual efforts like a great mark or a strong tackle were met with polite applause. They tried a couple of times to get a Giants chant going to abject failure.

Compare that to somewhere like BISP where most of the crowd is in the grandstand. As a crowd, you feed off the vibe of those around you. If they’re on their feet, you probably ate too. If they’re yelling encouragement, so are you. We were 20 feet away from our nearest neighbours who were also lounging on blankets enjoying the afternoon sun. You also have a section of bleachers that for the most part wasn’t being used meaning most of the crowd was a fair way from the fence and a long way from most of the action. Great position to watch (and analyse) not so great to get involved.

In a grandstand you’re sitting and it’s easier to rise to your feet and ‘erupt’. I’m old, and if I’m spread out on a blanket, it takes time and effort to stand up. The grandstand also focuses and amplifies the sound as it bounces off the back wall and the roof. So the cheering is louder and the chants easier to start and maintain.

If you want your crowd to be loud and actively involved - not merely pleasantly watching on - then Henson is unsuitable.

It was an enjoyable afternoon watching the footy, but I’m really not a fan of Henson Park as an AFL venue.

If they can’t use BISP, then they need to build a boutique grandstand at Tom Wills & play there.

Anyway, ramble over.

Yes, agree with your thoughtful points on Henson Park. Whilst both the Manuka games i watched our team this year didn’t draw big crowds, by putting everyone together in the grandstand and blocking off the rest of the ground, there was “atmosphere” with the 2k crowd for both these games sitting and feeding off each other. Not sure what the club thinks are the advantages of continuing with Henson Park for the Sydney home matches…

 

[dlanod]

1500 at Henson beats 500 at BISP but a small stand and hill at Tom Wills is absolutely the way to go.

 

[Giant YoYo]

I'm probably going to be on the outter here but BISP is the worst venue and overly overrated.

It's clearly not for my demographic. Most out of sight and out of mind venue they could play at. Biggest tick and flick exercise I've ever come across just to say they play out west. You won't be getting many return customers and anyone posting on this board must be driving to and back - wow, building such an attendance culture driving there and back.

 

[Colonial]

 

[Giant Strides]

This year has shown how much we need Alyce.

 

[Giant Strides]

GIANTS Unchanged To Face Cats

Alicia Eva will be unavailable to travel to Geelong, leaving Cam Bernasconi’s side unchanged to line up against the Cats.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

The GIANTS have named an unchanged line up to travel to Geelong this weekend to take on the Cats.

A late out for last week’s clash with the Saints, Alicia Eva has been deemed unavailable for selection this week due to a quad awareness. As a result, AFLW head coach Cam Bernasconi is backing his existing side to bank four points against the Cats on the road. The GIANTS led the Saints in stats across the park and dominated the inside 50 count 40 to 27 but were unable to make it count on the scoreboard, a key area of focus going into the match-up with the Cats.

Aliesha Newman will add plenty of speed off the bench and in behind the Geelong defensive line, with Sophie Kavanagh also providing pace as a weapon that can be deployed at either end of the park. Kavanagh was a late call up in round eight, following the late withdrawal of Eva.

Meanwhile, Katherine Smith will run out for her 75th AFLW game as just the second GIANTS’ player to reach the milestone match.

The GIANTS travel to Geelong to take on the Cats on Saturday, October 11 at 3:05pm at GMHBA Stadium, in the first week of Pride Round.

 

[Joshawk23]

We dont need to draft another mid trade 1st next year for Ellie Mckenzie or KD, and go get Evie Cowcher 173cm KD has played in waflw seniors last 3 years and dominating, zippy has said she is quality, she is ranked 11th on rookieme

 

[MelbourneGWS]

a 45 (6.9) - 72 (11.6) loss to our AFLW team against Geelong today. Whilst Geelong’s last quarter was too strong, we were in the hunt for most of the game, trailing by just 2 points at halftime and 6 points at the end of the third quarter. 3 goals to Tarni Evans, with a goal each to Goldsworthy, Mowbray and O’Dowd. We are currently 15th on the ladder, and will be playing 13th placed Fremantle next Saturday at Henson Park.

 

[Giant Strides]

AFLW Game Day Guide: Round 10 v Dockers

The GIANTS return to Henson Park for their Pride Round home match-up with the Dockers.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

AFLW ROUND 10

GIANTS v Dockers
Saturday, October 18 at 3:05pm
Henson Park, Sydney | Gadigal and Wangal

Gates open at 2:05pm

PRIDE ROUND

The GIANTS will bring the league-wide Pride Round celebration back home to Sydney in round ten for a mighty match-up with the Dockers.

Alongside the epic clash there’ll be a host of exciting things taking place on Saturday at Henson Park to celebrate the special round.

Eva Added To Take On Dockers

Dynamic forward Alicia Eva returns to Cam Bernasconi’s side ahead of Saturday’s round ten clash with the Dockers.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

Inaugural AFLW player Alicia Eva will return to the GIANTS’ side for Saturday’s Pride Round match-up against the Dockers.

Eva had been kept out of the team by a hamstring injury sustained during the round three loss to the Crows. She was on track for a return ahead of round seven before a minor quad strain delayed her return for a further three weeks. The dynamic forward adds almost 80 games of experience to the young GIANTS side, having played across all ten seasons of the AFLW.

Alongside key forwards Tarni Evans and Georgia Garnett, Eva will be looking to punish the Dockers’ defensive line-up and use her speed to finish opportunities inside the attacking arc. Aliesha Newman, who has come off the bench in the second half of the last two games, will make way for Eva’s return.

 

[MelbourneGWS]

A narrow loss for our AFLW team at Henson Park. We were beaten by a Fremantle team that was contending for a finals spot, and who beat 2nd favourites Melbourne last week. We led every quarter but they overwhelmed us in the last quarter, with the final score 40 (6.4) to 47 (6.11). Goals to Tarni Evan’s (2), McCormick, Goldsworthy, Garnett and Brazendale. We are currently 15th, and will be playing final bound Carlton next week in Melbourne.

 

[MelbourneGWS]

The crowd for today’s game at Henson Park was 1,105. Unfortunately it was the 3rd lowest attendance for an AFLW match this year (the Gold Coast match against us had a crowd of 839, and the North match against Swans in Tasmania drew 915).

Our total 2025 AFLW crowds for our 5 home games now stands at 8,573 with just the final round game against Port at Henson Park remaining. Our average home crowd is 1,715 with the respective home ground breakdowns below:

• Manuka 2 games = total attendances of 4,393 (average 2,197)
• Henson Park 3 games = total attendances of 4,180 (average 1,393)

Dockers surge past Giants to keep finals chances alive

The Dockers have overcome the Giants in a tight contest

www.afl.com.au

 

[dlanod]

A narrow loss for our AFLW team at Henson Park. We were beaten by a Fremantle team that was contending for a finals spot, and who beat 2nd favourites Melbourne last week. We led every quarter but they overwhelmed us in the last quarter, with the final score 40 (6.4) to 47 (6.11). Goals to Tarni Evan’s (2), McCormick, Goldsworthy, Garnett and Brazendale. We are currently 15th, and will be playing final bound Carlton next week in Melbourne.

Definitely signs of improvement over the year.

 

[MelbourneGWS]

Definitely signs of improvement over the year.

True indeed. Mathematically we are now unable to make the finals. Realistically we were always going to struggle to make finals this year, and had only played finals just once in the 9 seasons that AFLW existed (2020). However, watching us beat the Bulldogs at Manuka for our first win in more than a year, and then the sweet win against the trash talking Swans were the highlights. Given how close the race for placings in the bottom half of the finals are, that loss to us could be the difference between Sydney Swans just making the playoffs, and just missing out!

 

[captainMyCaptain]

 

[dlanod]

Here's a controversial idea - why not let them play there too then!

 

[captainMyCaptain]

 

[Giant Strides]

Carlton v Greater Western Sydney at Ikon Park, 3.05pm AEDT

CARLTON

In: T.Bohanna, S.O'Connell
Out: M.Torpey (omitted), B.Vickers (omitted)

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

In: A.Newman, V.Saad
Out: A.Eva (toe), T.Levy (managed)

Congrats to Tarni Evans for 50 games in orange.

Evans Talks 50 Game Milestone & Her Journey

Hear from GIANTS Forward Tarni Evans ahead of her 50th game of AFLW in our round 11 clash with Carlton.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

 

[MelbourneGWS]

Getting comprehensively outplayed by Carlton, and at halftime we are still goalless and are 2 points vs Carlton’s 43 points. Hopefully our team will have a significantly better second half and narrow the deficit.

 

[Giant YoYo]

Won't be surprised if the game is temporarily suspended with a heavy looking storm incoming on radar.

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Oncoming storms might be the only thing that saves us from a 100 point loss.