While the footballing world was back to normal following the impacts of COVID across the previous two years, there was still change in 2022 as the AFLW completed two full seasons in the one calendar year for the first time.
In the first of the two seasons - season six - despite strong wins over the Suns, Saints, Bulldogs and Cats, the GIANTS missed out on finals after finishing ninth.
Alyce Parker continued her dominance as she won her third consecutive Gabrielle Trainor Medal - becoming the first GIANT, male or female, to win three club championships.
The 21-year-old finished the 10-round season at the top of the count, edging out captain Alicia Eva and All-Australian squad member Cora Staunton, with Nicola Barr and Tanya Hetherington rounding out the top five.
Season seven of AFLW – beginning at the new August start time – saw Cam Bernasconi take over the top job as GIANTS’ AFLW head coach as all 18 AFL clubs fielded a women’s side for the first time in the competition’s history.
The GIANTS managed to win four of their 10 games under their new coach but were unable to make finals despite Alyce Parker continuing to shine with a record-breaking fourth consecutive club championship.
The tough midfielder finished the season on 99 votes in a count that marked a new era for the club as emerging stars Georgia Garnett and Tarni Evans rounded out the top three. Garnett (69 votes) claimed second place in a tight finish ahead of Evans (68), with the top three all under the age of 22.
More history was created at the Gabrielle Trainor Medal as club stalwarts Alicia Eva and Cora Staunton became the first female players to be given life membership for their achievements and service to the club following a season in which they both brought up their 50-game milestone.
On the AFL side it was a tough year for the GIANTS who managed just six wins as coach Leon Cameron stepped down eight rounds into the season after nine years at the club.
Cameron was celebrated for almost a decade of service in a farewell game against the Blues at GIANTS Stadium in round nine.
Assistant coach Mark McVeigh fulfilled the head coaching role in a caretaker capacity until season’s end.
While wins were tough to come by there were still plenty of bright spots throughout the 2022 campaign, with star defender Sam Taylor’s rise as one of the competition’s best young defenders a highlight as he was rewarded with his first Kevin Sheedy Medal.
Taylor’s victory capped off a remarkable return to the elite level, two seasons after being sidelined for almost an entire year with septic arthritis which saw him lose eight kilograms and forced him to re-build his body.
Playing in all 22 games, Taylor polled strongly across the count to claim the award with 156 votes from co-captain Stephen Coniglio (108 votes) and young gun Tom Green (104).
Taylor was recognised for his breakout season with his maiden selection in the All-Australian team - named at centre half-back.
Meanwhile teammate Josh Kelly was rewarded with selection in the 40-man All-Australian squad.
Inaugural GIANT Callan Ward reached a special milestone in 2022 when he became the first GIANT to notch 200 games for the club in a clash against North Melbourne in round 13.
The GIANTS farewelled popular clubman Matt de Boer in 2022 who retired at season’s end after a stellar 223-game career.
The GIANTS continued to have strong support from the Orange Army throughout the 2022 season, breaking their all-time AFL membership record with 32,624 members signing up to join the big big sound.
