Women's Footy AFLW 2025

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Round 1 of the 2025 AFLW season coming up in Canberra this weekend.

AFLW Rehab Report: Round 1

GIANTS youngster Daisy Walker is edging closer to a club debut.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

Injury List – 12 August

Daisy Walker	Knee	1-2 Weeks
Vivien Saad	Achilles	4-5 Weeks

Howley To Debut

The GIANTS have announced first-round pick Sara Howley will make her AFLW debut in Saturday’s season opener.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

The GIANTS will unveil prized number four pick Sara Howley for her AFLW debut in Saturday’s blockbuster season opener against Essendon in Canberra.

Taken with the club’s first pick in last year’s draft, the composed young midfielder joined the GIANTS as one of the country’s best young talents following a standout junior career.

A back-to-back U18 All Australian and Coates Talent League Team of the Year member, Howley dominated for both the Geelong Falcons and Vic Country to announce herself as one of the country’s brightest young stars.

Possessing elite endurance, sharp foot skills, and an uncanny knack for finding the footy, Howley averaged 26 disposals per game across 15 games in the Coates Talent League last year and was also named Vic Country’s MVP after averaging 28 touches per game at an elite 77 per cent efficiency at the national championships.

Grace A Go For Round One

Grace Martin will make her AFLW debut this weekend.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

Draftee Grace Martin will live out her childhood dream in the GIANTS’ opening round clash this Saturday, set to make her AFLW debut against the Bombers at Corroboree Group Oval, Manuka.

Announced on Wednesday by development coach Stephen Camp, the 18-year-old's inclusion in the round one side is a reward for her consistent effort and steady growth across the pre-season.

Selected with pick 22 in the 2024 AFLW Draft, Martin arrived at the club with a growing reputation as a powerful and versatile utility.

Capable of impacting the game on all three lines, the 18-year-old has continued to hone her craft as a defender and is likely to line up in the defensive 50 for her debut on Saturday.

After relocating from Adelaide, Martin quickly settled into life at the GIANTS, impressing both teammates and coaches with her work ethic, game sense and ability to absorb feedback.

Brown To Make Her GIANTS Debut

Eleanor Brown gets told she'll play in the orange for the first time this week against Essendon in Canberra.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

 

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Our club’s preview of our Saturday AFLW match vs Collingwood in Victoria.

Match Preview: Round 2 v Magpies

The GIANTS will look to bounce back against the Magpies as both teams search for their first win in round two of the 2025 AFLW Season.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

 

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The GIANTS will regain Irish ruck Grace Kos to face the Gold Coast after a week out following a minor knee complaint sustained against Collingwood.

The agile tall is an important inclusion to take on the Suns, given their significant height across the park.

She returns to the squad with Alicia Eva unavailable, ruled out for the next 4-6 weeks with a low-grade strain to her right hamstring.

The GIANTS will face the Suns on Saturday at 1:05pm at People First Stadium, Gold Coast.

AFLW Round 4

Suns v GIANTS
Saturday, September 6 at 1:05pm
People First Stadium, Gold Coast | Yugambeh

 

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No Changes For Return To Capital

Cam Bernasconi names an unchanged team to face off with the Bulldogs in round five of the 2025 NAB AFLW season.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

The GIANTS hope the lessons learned against the Suns will help to deliver the team’s first win of the season when an unchanged side takes on the Western Bulldogs on Saturday.

Bernasconi has backed his side to perform against the Bulldogs after a disappointing loss to the Suns.

The match celebrates Live and Local Round, putting the spotlight on junior and local athletes and highlighting the pathway that helped GIANTS’ players Emily Pease and Tarni Evans reach AFLW level, as well as thanking ACT fans and members for their support in 2025.

The GIANTS meet the Bulldogs at Corroboree Group Oval, Manuka on Saturday at 4:35pm at in Canberra, Ngunnawal country.

 

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Extended Squad Locked In For Sydney Derby IV

Cam Bernasconi has selected an extended squad ahead of an exciting Sydney Derby IV.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

Speedster Aliesha Newman, ruck Fleur Davies and midfielder Claire Ransom have been named as part of an extended squad of 24 as the GIANTS prepare for a round six clash with cross-town rivals the Swans.

Davies could make her first appearance of the 2025 NAB AFLW season after consistently strong performances in scrimmage matches.

While Newman and Ransom could both also offer plenty of speed on the ball and inside the arc, should they make the final team.

With no serious injuries sustained in the win over the Bulldogs, the GIANTS have a full host of options for selection.

Head coach Cam Bernasconi will name his team to take on the Swans on Friday at 6:20pm.

 

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Dangerous Davies Returns

Cam Bernasconi has named Fleur Davies to enter the side for her first game of the 2025 NAB AFLW season.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

Fleur Davies will play her first match at AFLW level this season, coming into the side as a replacement for Irish recruit Grace Kos.

The 185-cm ruck will add to the 15 games under her belt after performing at a high level in AFLW scrimmage. Davies was a strong improver through the GIANTS pre-season, delivering a personal best time trial result and working on both her ruck and forward craft. The Southport junior will look to pile onto the GIANTS’ aerial advantage and increase the side’s competitive efforts around centre clearances - a team stat that the GIANTS have struggled to win the ball in through the front half of the season.

Davies can be an important asset in creating hit outs to advantage and deliver the ball quickly to the attacking 50. She also comes into the centre contest with Eagles’ ruck Liz McGrath still out following an ankle injury sustained in round five. Davies’ inclusion is the only change to the side which has delivered back-to-back victories over rounds five and six.

The GIANTS will face the Eagles at 5:05pm AEST (3:05pm AWST) this Sunday,September 28 at Mineral Resources Park, Perth on Whadjuk Country.

 

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Newman And Eva Add Experience Ahead Of Saints Clash

Aliesha Newman will play her first match of the 2025 NAB AFLW season when the GIANTS meet the Saints on Saturday.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

Aliesha Newman comes into Cam Bernasconi’s side for her first game of the season alongside Alicia Eva, who returns for her first game since round three. Newman has been a consistent performer at scrimmage level over the last month and adds plenty of experience with 63 games under her belt. The speedy utility last featured for the GIANTS in round ten of 2024 and has continued to play a critical role off field as one of the squad’s four inaugural AFLW players, in helping the development of younger players. The 30-year-old can be deployed both in the midfield and forward line and adds plenty of strength to the team, particularly with her agility and speed.

She enters the team alongside Alicia Eva, fully recovered from the strain she suffered in her right hamstring in the round three loss to the Crows. Eva has been assisting in the coaches' box, applying her critical skills to opposition review while working towards her return.

Indi Linde and Eleanor Brown will make way for the return of the two senior players.

The GIANTS will face the Saints at 1:05pm on Saturday, October 4 at Henson Park Marrickville for the first AFLW Welcome Game.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4​

Greater Western Sydney v St Kilda at Henson Park, 1.05pm AEST

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

In: A.Newman, A.Eva
Out: E.Brown (omitted), I.Linde (omitted)

ST KILDA

In: D.Guttridge, Ar.Clarke
Out: A.Richards (leg), R.Caris (hand)

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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

 

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Match Preview: Round 12 v Power

The GIANTS return to Henson Park for their final AFLW match of 2025, looking to close out the season on a high.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

The GIANTS will look to finish off season 10 with a high when they clash with the Power at Henson Park in their final game for 2025.

AFLW ROUND 12
 
GIANTS v Power

Saturday, November 1 at 1:05pm

Henson Park, Sydney | Gadigal & Wangal

A win would be the GIANTS’ best season since the competition expanded in 2022, while also ensuring that retiring GIANT Aliesha Newman finishes her career on a high, following the announcement of her retirement from the game on Tuesday.

The Opposition 

A ‘Showdown’ win against their cross-town opponents the Crows in round 11 has given the Power a glimmer of hope for finals and a win against the GIANTS would leave them hoping other results fall in their favour to nab the last spot in the eight. Port enjoyed a rapid rise in 2024, playing finals for the first time after joining the competition as part of the 18-team expansion in 2022.

GIANTS Player to Watch: Aliesha Newman

One of the best beloved players around the club for her commitment to culture and community, Aliesha Newman announced that this Saturday’s match would be her last at AFLW level. A prolific small forward, with the ability to break through lines with her speed, Newman is a previous AFLW Goal of the Year winner, who threatens the same ability to leave opponents in her wake even now.

Newman has featured in a different role for the GIANTS this season, coming off the bench in her first two matches for the side in rounds eight and nine, before featuring more prominently against the Blues last week. With her relentless pursuit and pace, Newman is as dangerous as she was when she was recruited by the Demons ahead of the inaugural AFLW season.

The GIANTS will be looking to send Newman off on a high, with a win at Henson Park for her final game.

In The Mix 

Zarlie Goldsworthy will need to complete training on Thursday after tweaking her ankle in last Sunday’s match-up with the Blues.

Taylah Levy was managed last week after ongoing knee soreness kept her from contesting a place in Cam Bernasconi’s side. She is a chance to return this week after returning to training with the team.

With the last AFLW scrimmage for the season held in Adelaide last week, both Eleanor Brown and Claire Ransom are also chances to enter the team after strong outings at Alberton Oval.