Season 2023 was the dawning of a new era at the GIANTS with Adam Kingsley taking over the reins as head coach of the AFL side following the end of Leon Cameron’s nine-year tenure.
Kingsley, along with his new-look coaching staff, didn’t take long to affect change at the club, naming superstar forward Toby Greene the standalone captain, with Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio his vice-captains.
While Kingsley’s tenure didn’t get off to the ideal start, things would soon change as the orange tsunami stormed its way to within inches of a grand final berth.
The early-season highlight was a thrilling one-point win over cross-town rivals, the Swans, at the SCG in round seven.
Trailing by 24 points early in the final term, the GIANTS kicked the final four goals of the game, with new standalone skipper Greene nailing a tough snap in congestion in the final minute of the game to clinch the one-point win.
After a slow start had them at 4-8 after round 12, the GIANTS finally got in tune with Kinglsey’s new gameplan which saw them storm to a club-record seven straight wins to become firmly entrenched in the hunt for finals.
While the streak eventually ended, the GIANTS were soon back to their record-breaking ways with a club-record 126-point win over Essendon in round 23 - the highest winning margin in GIANTS history.
The monster 25.12 (162) to 5.6 (36) win also saw the club set its highest-ever score while full forward Jesse Hogan set new career-highs in both goals (nine) and marks (17) in the best performance of his career.
Needing a win in the final round of the home and away season to make finals, the GIANTS continued their remarkable run to put an end to Carlton’s nine-match winning streak with a 32-point victory at Marvel Stadium.
The win booked the GIANTS an elimination final clash with St Kilda the following week where the orange tsunami continued its momentum with a resilient 24-point win over the Saints at the MCG.
The impressive victory saw the GIANTS set an AFL record with wins at 11 different venues in a single season.
The GIANTS continued their red-hot form the following week to end Port Adelaide’s season early with an impressive 23-point semi-final win over the Power at Adelaide Oval.
After winning 11 of their last 13 matches, a preliminary final match-up with Collingwood at the MCG was up next but in heartbreaking fashion the GIANTS fell agonisingly short by one point to the eventual premiers in one of the games of the season.
The crushing defeat brought an end to a remarkable turnaround season for the GIANTS under their new coach who took the club from a 16th placed finish the season prior to within one point of playing off in a grand final.
Kingsley was rewarded for his incredible maiden AFL head coaching campaign by being voted the AFL Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year.
Three GIANTS were also recognised for their stellar 2023 campaigns, with Greene, Tom Green, and Stephen Coniglio named in the 40-man All-Australian squad, with Greene not only making the final 22 but also named All-Australian captain for the first time in his career.
Greene capped off his remarkable season just weeks later with his second Kevin Sheedy Medal – becoming just the third GIANT to win the award twice, alongside Lachie Whitfield and Josh Kelly.
In one of the club’s closest counts, Greene edged out Coniglio and Green in the final three games of the GIANTS’ 27-game season to claim the honour.
Harry Himmelberg also had reason to celebrate on top of his new six-year deal after claiming the AFL’s Mark of the Year for his monster hanger in the opening round against the Crows in Adelaide.
Several GIANTS celebrated special milestones in 2023, with one-club GIANTS Greene, Whitfield, Coniglio and Nick Haynes all celebrating game number 200 throughout the season.
The GIANTS were also celebrating special milestones off the field, with the club cracking 33,000 members for the first time to set a new club membership record of 33,036 members.
Meanwhile, the club farewelled two of its most beloved GIANTS at season’s end, with inaugural co-captain Phil Davis and 100-game forward Daniel Lloyd both calling time on their careers.
The club also farewelled one of the most prominent figures in its history, with Tony Shepherd AO stepping down from his role as Chairman at season’s end. He had held the position since the establishment of the club in 2011 and was acknowledged for his tremendous service at the 2023 Kevin Sheedy Medal count. GIANTS board member Tim Reed was announced as his successor.
In the women’s program, several youngsters continued to blossom despite a down year on the scoreboard in 2023.
Things got off to a tough start for the AFLW program with an agonising five-point loss to the Swans in round one which seemed to set the tone for the rest of the season.
While the club’s young core group continued to develop, the GIANTS were unable to capitalise on several chances in season eight as they registered two wins from their 10 AFLW games.
Despite not making finals, the GIANTS still had several reasons to celebrate, with young gun Zarlie Goldsworthy stamping herself as a star of the competition, while some key GIANTS brought up career milestones.
At just 18 years old and in her second season, Goldsworthy created history in 2023 by becoming the GIANTS’ youngest ever club champion with her maiden Gabrielle Trainor Medal. The talented teenager was also named the competition’s 2023 AFLW Rising Star following a breakout season which saw her become the youngest player in AFLW history to kick five goals in a game.
Alyce Parker also continued her stellar AFLW career in 2023- finishing second in the club champion award despite missing the final three games. Young gun Tarni Evans and inaugural GIANT Bec Beeson also had strong campaigns as they tied for third place in the Gabrielle Trainor Award. Beeson’s season was noteworthy after starring in her long-awaited return from concussion issues.
Isabel Huntington was another feel-good story of 2023 after the former number one draft pick made her long-awaited GIANTS debut after overcoming her third ACL injury following more than 600 days on the sideline.
Many other new faces also donned the orange and charcoal for the first time in 2023, with Caitlin Miller, Fleur Davies and Rene Caris all debuting for the club.
Many milestones were celebrated in 2023 with Beeson, Nicola Bar, Pepa Randall, Jasmine Grierson and Katherine Smith all playing their 50th AFLW match throughout season.
Season 2023 also saw the end of an era for the AFLW side, with popular captain Alicia Eva stepping down as skipper at the end of the year after five seasons in the role.
Good news was soon to follow however as record-holding four-time club champion Alyce Parker re-committed to the club for a further two years.
