Women's Footy AFLW Giants 2026

[captainMyCaptain]

A run down and a predicted best 21 for the 2026 season from afl.com

Your club's best 21: Who's in, who's out, who's new

Gemma Bastiani has compiled her predicted starting 21 for each team ahead of the 2026 season

www.afl.com.au

 

[captainMyCaptain]

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Not surprised and expect her spot to be taken by Yerbury in the best 21.
But also have to say Smith was a real heart and soul player that gave her all.

 

[Joshawk23]

If kath was a tier 3 player, then watch them resign McCormick or someone else, cause you have to use 100% of the cap, as a replacement look for Amelie Prosser Shaw, Academy girl Played VFL last year for box hill 175cm, taller than kath but is athletic and a better shutdown defender

 

[captainMyCaptain]

 

[captainMyCaptain]

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Club champion and AFLW leader Alicia Eva continues her role as AFL Development Coach in 2026 while also taking on the exciting opportunity as the club’s new GIANTS Academy Female Head Coach

GIANTS 2026 Coaching Structure

The GIANTS have confirmed their AFL coaching structure for the 2026 season.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

 

[captainMyCaptain]

 

[captainMyCaptain]

 

[Orangeutan]

Good development.

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Zielke is nice pick up but would be even nicer if she was taking over as our new HC.

Three Exciting Additions to AFLW Coaching Group

The GIANTS are delighted to announce three exciting additions to their AFLW program.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

 

[Joshawk23]

So we let go of our Backline Coach(BrentChapman), Forward Coach(Jon Vlatko) and Ruck Coach(Rhiannon Metcalfe),but not the coach in charge of midfield

 

[MelbourneGWS]

Zielke is nice pick up but would be even nicer if she was taking over as our new HC.

Three Exciting Additions to AFLW Coaching Group

The GIANTS are delighted to announce three exciting additions to their AFLW program.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

So Mummy is doing this job as well as continuing to be the Rucks coach for the AFL team? I thought given the new rucks rules and the less than optimal performance by Briggs, he would have been too busy to undertake this role?

 

[Giant Strides]

So we let go of our Backline Coach(BrentChapman), Forward Coach(Jon Vlatko) and Ruck Coach(Rhiannon Metcalfe),but not the coach in charge of midfield

Ahh, genius management.

 

[captainMyCaptain]

So Mummy is doing this job as well as continuing to be the Rucks coach for the AFL team? I thought given the new rucks rules and the less than optimal performance by Briggs, he would have been too busy to undertake this role?

Mummy might have said Briggs is a lost cause, so what else have you got for me

 

[Giant Strides]

Exciting Young Duo Extend

The GIANTS are delighted to have secured the signatures of two of their brightest young talents.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

The GIANTS are delighted to have secured the signatures of two of their brightest young talents, with Sara Howley and Grace Martin both signing contract extensions.

Both taken in the first round of the 2024 AFLW Draft, the pair will remain in orange and charcoal through until at least the end of the 2027 NAB AFLW season after putting pen to paper on new one-year deals. The extensions come after impressive debut campaigns in 2025, with both Howley and Martin quickly establishing themselves as important contributors in Cam Bernasconi’s side.

Taken with pick number four in the 2024 AFLW Draft, Howley wasted little time showcasing why she was one of the most highly rated players in her draft class. A dynamic and highly skilled midfielder renowned for her speed, versatility and exceptional consistency, the young star was one of the standout ball winners in the 2024 draft pool. Also a back-to-back Under-18 All Australian and member of the Coates Talent League Team of the Year prior to joining the GIANTS, Howley combines her elite running ability with a high football IQ and a natural knack for finding the footy. The 20-year-old carried her under-18 form straight into her first AFLW season, playing all 12 games in 2025 to become a reliable performer in the GIANTS’ midfield.

Selected with the club’s second pick in the 2024 AFLW Draft, Martin also made an immediate impression in her first season at the GIANTS in 2025. Taken with pick 22, the South Australian joined the club as a powerful and versatile utility capable of impacting games across all three lines. Known for her fierce competitiveness, clean hands and sharp decision-making, the 19-year-old found her role across half-back in her maiden AFLW campaign where she quickly established herself as a dependable presence in defence. Also playing in all 12 games, Martin’s efforts saw her claim the GIANTS’ Rising Star Award for her outstanding debut season last year.

GIANTS Executive General Manager of AFLW, Alison Zell, said the club was thrilled to have both Howley and Martin recommit. “We’re really excited to have Sara and Grace extend their time at the club,” Zell said. “Both players came in last season and immediately showed they belong at AFLW level with the way they competed and the consistency they brought each week. Sara has already proven herself to be a dynamic midfielder with terrific running power and football smarts, while Grace’s versatility and competitiveness make her such a valuable player for our group. They’ve both embraced everything about the GIANTS since arriving and have fit seamlessly into the culture we’re building here. To have them commit to the club again so early in their careers is a great sign for the direction we’re heading and we’re excited to see how they continue to develop in the seasons ahead.”

The GIANTS will officially begin their 2026 AFLW pre-season in May, with the season set to kick off in mid-August.

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Awesome to see mass incompetence be rewarded

 

[Joshawk23]

What does Alison see in Cam that we dont see cause what i see is besides him being a girls guy, hes a crap coach

 

[captainMyCaptain]

 

[Giant Strides]

NSW's Over-Age Standouts: Swans and Giants Pushing for Preseason Draft

The Sydney Swans Academy and GWS Giants Academy have a number of prospects looking to push their case to make it onto AFLW lists on May 4.

central.rookieme.com

GWS GIANTS ACADEMY​

Sophia Gaukrodger Midfielder/Forward | 173cm | 16/01/2007

If there is one player in the NSW over-age group who feels most like the one that got away, it is Gaukrodger. She was unluckily overlooked by the Giants Academy for the 2024 Talent League entirely – which meant she missed the carnival-level exposure that drives draft visibility – and quickly made her name through AFL Sydney with UTS Bats instead.

By the time the 2025 AFLW Draft came around, she had worked her way into the Giants Academy squad and put together four standout Talent League games, averaging 18.5 disposals and six goals per match, but found herself in the logjam of players just outside the bracket at the business end of draft night.

The 2026 season has only strengthened the case. She was clearly the Giants Academy’s best across the entire series, arguably best-on from her team in two of the three games and among the best in the other. Despite spending more time forward coming into the Talent League Girls to kick off proceedings in Round 2, she still held her own, and then went more on-ball once Zoe Curry returned to the Chargers.

Her yo-yo result of 16.08 level at the NSW-ACT Preseason Testing put her equal third in the state, confirming the tank that drives her high work rate is real and repeatable. She brings the defensive heat as readily as the offensive production.

Why she was overlooked: A combination of the 2024 Talent League miss – which cost her carnival exposure and therefore Allies selection – being overlooked for the Allies last season, and a draft pool that was deep in the midfielder-forward mould she occupies.

Why she’s a chance now: A player who kicked off the year with a dominant Summer Series performance and strong early 2026 form – averaging 18.5 disposals, 3.5 marks, 7.0 tackles and 2.5 rebound 50s – deserves to be drafted. The tools have been visible for two seasons. The only variable is whether a club assigns her a slot on May 4.

 

[captainMyCaptain]

 

[captainMyCaptain]

 

[captainMyCaptain]

From codesports

 

[Joshawk23]

Welcome to the Giants, Maisy Evans and congrats on the promotion Sophia Gaukrodger.

 

[Joshawk23]

one question are we ignoring small forwards cause besides Pauga (she doesnt play like one) and maybe Goldsworthy (more mid than forward) we dont have any small forwards