Can the GIANTS produce a similar performance to their dominant round one display as they return to Manuka Oval to host the winless Gold Coast Suns on Sunday afternoon.

Match Information:

GIANTS v Suns
Sunday, September 15 at 5:05pm
Manuka Oval | Ngunnawal Country 

State of Play:

The orange tsunami will return to Manuka Oval this Sunday wanting to replicate their efforts from their round one performance at the same venue just a fortnight ago.

The GIANTS opened their 2024 campaign in the nation’s capital with an impressive 65-point victory over the Bulldogs, recording the club’s biggest-ever AFLW win and biggest-ever AFLW score.

The GIANTS were hopeful of breaking a third record when they travelled to Melbourne to face the Tigers last weekend, as they searched for back-to-back wins for the first time since 2021.

It wasn’t to be for the GIANTS, as a slow start proved too costly against a determined Tigers outfit.

Trailing by 29 points at half-time, the GIANTS launched a brave fightback, dominating the second half and kicking three straight goals to give themselves an outside chance of pinching victory.

Cam Bernasconi unveiled his fifth GIANTS debutant of the season against the Tigers, with tall forward Courtney Murphy making her AFLW debut.

Murphy – a former member of the Brisbane Lions – replaced Jess Doyle who was a late out with illness ahead of the game.

The 24-year-old joins Kaitlyn Srhoj and Eilish O’Dowd as AFLW debutants this season, alongside Mikayla Pauga and Clare Ransom as club debutants.

The Opposition:

The Suns will travel to Manuka Oval in search of a maiden win for season 2024 as they join the Pies and Bulldogs as the only winless teams heading into round three of the competition.

They’ll enter Sunday’s fixture full of determination after they were snatched of victory in dramatic scenes in the dying seconds of last weekend’s match against the Blues in Mackay.

After back-to-back home games to start the season, the Suns will travel for the first time this weekend. 

Recent History:

The two teams have faced off every season since the Suns entered the competition in season 2020.

The GIANTS lead the head-to-head 5-1, with the Suns recording their first victory in the most recent encounter, in round nine last year.

The Suns were dominant under the bright lights of People First Stadium in the Friday night fixture, producing a 31-point victory to keep their finals hopes alive.

After the scores were level at quarter-time, the Suns edged away through weight of possession. They won the disposal count (279-186), clearances (35-23) and inside 50s (35-25) and were just a little too classy as the GIANTS struggled to convert forward of the centre.

In the Mix:

Medium forward Jess Doyle was a late out on Sunday morning with illness and remains a test ahead of selection on Thursday evening.

The medium forward played all 10 games in season 2023 so is sure to be a topic of conversation at the selection table should she be deemed available.

Caitlin Miller and newcomer Aliesha Newman have been emergencies in recent weeks and will be pushing for their first game of season 2024.

Team Selection:

The GIANTS will name their squad for round three at 6:20pm on Thursday and their final team at 5pm on Friday at gwsgiants.com.au.

Rehab Report:

Get a full injury update ahead of Sunday’s clash here.

Where to Watch:

The GIANTS’ round three clash with the Suns will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally and on 7Mate in NSW and the ACT from 5pm on Sunday.

Social Media:

Follow the GIANTS on Instagram at @GWSGIANTSAFLW,  and be part of the #BigBigSound in 2024!

Gold Coast has snatched a dramatic draw with an injury-ravaged GIANTS side after Jamie Stanton kicked a clutch goal after the siren to secure the Suns' first points of the season.

The GIANTS appeared destined to claim a six-point win despite being down to one player on the bench, after Zarlie Goldsworthy kicked truly from a free kick at the top of the goalsquare late in the 5.6 (36) to 5.6 (36) draw at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

But with 30 seconds to go, Pepa Randall received a free kick, but her poor attempted pass to Tarni Evans hung in the air, allowing Daisy D'arcy to spoil it.

In the subsequent chaos, GIANTS defender Katherine Smith was penalised for tackling Stanton without the ball.

The veteran kicked truly to snare the two premiership points.

"We probably thought it wasn't going to be our day and then we got lucky with a free kick," Stanton said after the game.

"That's my job, is to slot 'em - and I missed one earlier so I had to go back and nail it."

Suns coach Cameron Joyce added: "She's built for those moments, Jamie, so we had a lot of confidence she would go back and kick it."

The GIANTS suffered a blow before Sunday evening's match with Izzy Huntington a late withdrawal with knee soreness. 

Then Cambridge McCormick hobbled off with assistance early in the second quarter after suffering an ankle injury, while Emily Pease also suffered an ankle injury.

Then, in the third quarter, Nicola Barr required help getting off the ground after suffering what appeared to be a serious left hamstring injury after leaping for a tackle. 

Gold Coast midfield gun Charlie Rowbottom (41 disposals, 13 clearances) was magnificent, while D'Arcy impressed in defence.

GIANTS skipper Rebecca Beeson (23 disposals) stood up, while Kaitlyn Srhoj (19 disposals) and Haneen Zreika (two goals) were also busy.

Goals to Beeson and Zreika helped the GIANTS snatch an eight-point lead at quarter-time.

The Suns dominated the second term but couldn't make it count on the scoreboard, trailing by eight at half-time.

In the third term, former GIANTS captain Alicia Eva made use of the wind to kick a clutch goal and nudge the lead out to 14 points.

The Suns started to chip away at the deficit as the GIANTS tired, Kiara Bischa kicking a goal just before the three-quarter-time siren.

Clara Fitzpatrick cut the deficit to two points with a lovely snap early in the final term.

Gold Coast couldn't land the killer blow and were ultimately happy to claim two points via Stanton's late heroics.

"I'm really proud that they actually fought their way through and still walk away with two points," GIANTS coach Cam Bernasconi said of his side's ability to play out the game after suffering the early injuries.

"I think the girls will be replaying moments in their heads over the next few days and it's important that we learn from it, we improve.

The key message I just said to the playing group is that last night our men's team learnt a hard lesson (in their semi-final against Brisbane). They have to wait six months to get back out there and play; we wait seven days."

The Suns (0-1-2) host Geelong next Saturday, while the GIANTS (1-1-1) play rivals Sydney away.

GIANTS                                    3.3    3.4    4.6    5.6 (36)
GOLD COAST                          2.1    2.2    3.3    5.6 (36)

GOALS

GIANTS: Goldsworthy, Evans, Eva, Beeson, Zreika
Gold Coast: Davies 2, Stanton, Fitzpatrick, Barwick

BEST

GIANTS: Beeson, Parker, Srhoj, O'Dowd, Evans
Gold Coast: Rowbottom, Single, Whitford, D'Arcy, Davies

INJURIES

GIANTS: McCormick (ankle), Pease (ankle), Barr (hamstring)
Gold Coast: TBC

Crowd: 1,507 at Manuka Oval