Season 2024 saw coach Adam Kingsley’s reign continue into a second season following his brilliant debut 2023 season which saw him crowned the AFL Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year.

Toby Greene continued as the standalone captain, with Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio his vice-captains. While young guns Tom Green, Sam Taylor, Connor Idun and Harry Perryman rounded out the leadership group.

Following on from a record-breaking 2023 season, Kingsley and Greene led the GIANTS to even greater heights in 2024 before a set of heartbreaking losses saw them bundled out of finals to fall short of their own lofty expectations.

The season started off with a bang as the GIANTS hosted the ‘Pies in the AFL’s first-ever Opening Round, a new initiative involving four games played across New South Wales and Queensland prior to round one to shine a spotlight and grow the game in the northern states.

Played in front of a packed-out ENGIE Stadium – formerly known as GIANTS Stadium- the GIANTS kicked nine of 11 goals either side of half-time to register a resounding 32-point win over the reigning premiers.

Also present in the win was a fresh new face, with GIANTS Academy graduate and 2023 draftee Harvey Thomas making his AFL debut in an impressive first outing.

The big win over Collingwood was a catalyst for a record-breaking start to the 2024 season, with the GIANTS victorious in their first seven games of the year for the first time in club history.

While their dominant winning streak to start the season was ended by the Swans in round eight, the GIANTS quickly got back on track and continued to be one of the competition’s best sides to finish the home and away season in fourth spot on the ladder.

The top-four finish saw the GIANTS take on the Swans in a mouthwatering all-Sydney Qualifying Final at the SCG in the first week of finals. Unfortunately, it didn’t all go to plan for the GIANTS, with the side giving up a seven-goal lead to go down by six points in a heartbreaking defeat.

The loss to the Swans saw the GIANTS face off with the Lions in a huge semi-final at ENGIE Stadium the following week, where it was a devastating case of Déjà vu for Adam Kingsley’s men.

Up by 44 points halfway through the third term against the eventual premiers, the GIANTS could not withstand a furious fightback from the Lions who kicked the final six goals of the game to book themselves a spot in a preliminary final, while ending the GIANTS season prematurely.

While it was a heartbreaking end to such a promising season, the GIANTS still had plenty to celebrate from their 2024 campaign, with Jesse Hogan’s emergence as the premier key forward in the competition a key highlight.

Off the back of a strong 2023 season, Hogan took his game to another level in 2024, with the hulking full forward winning his first Coleman Medal after finishing the home and away season atop the league’s goalkicking tally with 69 majors.

The dominant campaign not only saw Hogan claim the Coleman Medal, but he was also crowned an All Australian for the first time and won his first club champion award after winning the Kevin Sheedy Medal in thrilling fashion.

Trailing the count all night, Hogan’s brilliant five-goal performance in the semi-final loss to the Lions saw him leapfrog both Tom Green and Lachie Whitfield to claim a well-deserved win.

Green and Whitfield tied in second just one vote behind Hogan, while Connor Idun and Brent Daniels rounded out the top five.

Both Whitfield and Daniels were also named in the All-Australian squad, with Whitfield making the final side for the second time.

While not named in the All-Australian side or squad, Green’s stellar season was recognised by the umpires with a fifth-place finish in the 2024 Brownlow Medal.

Several GIANTS also celebrated special milestones in 2024, with Callan Ward celebrating his 300^th game and Josh Kelly his 200^th.

Jesse Hogan celebrated his 150^th AFL game, while Lachie Ash, Brent Daniels, and Sam Taylor each notched up their 100^th AFL appearance.

At the other end of the spectrum the GIANTS also gave a host of fresh faces their first taste of AFL action in 2024, with Harvey Thomas, Darcy Jones, Max Gruzewski, and Joe Fonti all making their debuts.

Thomas and Jones were both recognised in their debut seasons with Rising Star nominations in round 14 and 17 respectively.

Meanwhile after 153 AFL games, the GIANTS bid farewell to inaugural GIANTS Adam Kennedy at season’s end as he called time on his AFL playing career.

A Life Member of the GIANTS, Kennedy joined the club ahead of its debut season in 2012 and quickly became a fan favourite and a heart and soul player for the club due to his tough and selfless nature and his love and care for his teammates. 

It was the dawning of a new era in the club’s AFLW program as Rebecca Beeson was named the new captain of the AFLW side following Alicia Eva’s decision to step down following five seasons in the role.

A Sydney local and inaugural GIANT, entering her ninth season at the club, Beeson became just the third captain in the club’s AFLW history, following Eva and inaugural captain Amanda Farrugia.

While it unfortunately wasn’t the season the side was hoping for, the GIANTS did kickstart their 2024 campaign in breathtaking fashion at Manuka Oval, with the club smashing the Western Bulldogs by 63 points to open their season.

The big win over the Bulldogs was the highest score and highest winning margin in GIANTS AFLW history.

Adding to the records on the day, star new recruit Eilish O’Dowd – who was making her AFLW debut – kicked the fastest opening goal in AFLW history after kicking a thrilling running goal just 15 seconds into the match with her first-ever disposal.

The exciting clash also saw the GIANTS unveil three other newcomers, with number three pick Kaitlyn Srhoj joined by Mikayla Pauga and Claire Ransom who joined the club in the summer from the Lions and the Sunsrespectively.

A strong performer from the get-go, Srhoj received an AFLW Rising Star nomination in round three and was well in consideration to take out the award before a knee injury late in the year forced her to miss the final three games of the season.

Five others made their GIANTS debut in 2024, with Aliesha Newman, Courtney Murphy, Annise Bradfield, Jemma Ramsdale, and Indigo Linde all donning orange and charcoal for the first time.

While the GIANTS didn’t achieve the results they were hoping for – with the club finishing 16^th with one win, one draw and nine losses, there were still plenty of positives to take out of the season.

New skipper Rebecca Beeson capped off her brilliant debut season as skipper by taking out her second Gabrielle Trainor Medal.

Battling it out with the 2023 club champion Zarlie Goldsworthy for most of the count, Beeson’s best-on-ground performance in the final game of the season was enough to crown her the 2024 Gabrielle Trainor Medallist.

Having won the award back in 2019, Beeson became just the second GIANT to win multiple Gabrielle Trainor Medals alongside Alyce Parker who won four straight prior to Goldsworthy’s win in 2023.

Katherine Smith – who was elevated to vice-captain for the first time in season 2024 – capped off her strong season with a third place in the Gabrielle Trainor Medal, while Parker and Irish sensation O’Dowd rounded out the top five.

There were also special milestones celebrated in 2024, with Parker and Haneen Zreika playing their 50^thAFLW game, while Alicia Eva played her 75^th AFLW game.

Off the field the GIANTS were also kicking goals in 2024, with the club breaking its all-time membership number with a record 36,629 members. The special feat was the first time the club surpassed 36,000 members since its introduction to the AFL just 13 years earlier.

The club’s time in Canberra also continued to prosper in 2024, with the GIANTS selling out all three home games in Canberra for the first time.