The GIANTS and the Swans will battle it out for bragging rights in a mouthwatering clash in neutral territory. 

Match Information:

GIANTS v Swans
Sunday, September 22 at 3:05pm
Henson Park | Gadigal and Wangal Country

State of Play: 

The GIANTS will enter Sunday’s Sydney Derby full of confidence after a strong start to the season which has them sitting with one win and a draw from the opening three rounds. 

With Sydney bragging rights on the line, Sunday’s clash at Henson Park will be the GIANTS’ first game in Sydney this season after playing a pair of home games in Canberra across the first three rounds. 

The GIANTS will face off with the Swans following a gutsy effort at Manuka Oval last week where they drew with the Suns despite being three players down in the second half.

Limited to just two on the bench following ankle injuries to important defenders Cambridge McCormick and Emily Pease, and a hamstring injury to star winger Nicola Barr, the GIANTS entered the second half up by eight points and managed to keep their noses in front until the final moments when Gold Coast’s Jamie Stanton kicked a goal after the siren to end the game in a draw.  

While not the victory they were hoping for, the GIANTS showed remarkable resilience to fight out a draw with three less rotations for the entire second half.

There were several strong performances in the draw, with skipper Bec Beeson (23 touches, 11 tackles) leading the charge, while Kaitlyn Srhoj was named the AFLW Rising Star nominee for round three after starring in just her third game with 20 touches, six tackles and four clearances.

The GIANTS will unfortunately be missing McCormick and Barr against the Swans on Sunday, with McCormick set to miss 6-8 weeks with a syndesmosis injury, while Barr will miss the remainder of the 2024 season after requiring surgery on her badly injured hamstring.

In more positive news, Pease (ankle) has avoided major damage and will train on Thursday looking to prove her fitness to take on the Swans.  

The Opposition:

The Swans are searching for their second win of the season on Sunday after following up their 15-point round one win over Collingwood with back-to-back losses to the Saints and Tigers. 

In their most recent outing the Swans gave up a five-goal opening term to the Tigers who went on to register a 10.8 (68) to 3.4 (22) win in Coffs Harbour.

Laura Gardiner (29 disposals, six tackles) and Montana Ham (13 disposals, two goals) led the way for the Swans and will be looking to continue their strong form against the GIANTS at Henson Park. 

Recent History: 

Sunday’s clash will see the victor move ahead on the win-loss ledger between the sides, with the first two AFLW Sydney Derbies split one each between the fierce rivals.

In the most recent clash, in last year’s season opener, it was the Swans who registered a thrilling five-point win at North Sydney Oval. 

Alyce Parker (22 disposals) and Alicia Eva (21 disposals) led the way for the GIANTS, while Gardiner (19 disposals, 13 tackles) and Ally Morphet (18 touches, 29 hit-outs) were strong for the Swans. 

In the Mix:

Barr and McCormick’s injuries means there’ll be at least two forced changes to the GIANTS’ team this week, with Izzy Huntington, Brodee Mowbray and Aliesha Newman all in contention.

Huntington will push her case after being a late out for last week’s game with knee soreness, Mowbray will look to play her first AFLW game of the season after making a successful return from an ACL injury through a scrimmage last week, while Newman could make her GIANTS debut against her old side after impressing across the pre-season.  

Team Selection: 

The GIANTS will name their squad for round four 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 four clash with the Swans will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally and on 7Mate in NSW and the ACT from 3pm on Sunday.

Social Media:

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

The Swans have held off a fast-finishing GIANTS side to reignite their season with a three-point victory in a thriller at Henson Park.

After returning GIANTS forward Brodee Mowbray goaled with a minute remaining to give her side a hint of hope, it took a critical tackle from the Swans' Cynthia Hamilton at the centre bounce to clinch the 6.7 (43) to 6.4 (40) win on Sunday afternoon.

The Swans had opened up a convincing lead until the contest turned into an arm wrestle after the main break as the GIANTS kept challenging without quite reclaiming the lead.

With only one point the difference at the final change, Hamilton made her first crucial intervention with a pair of classy goals, but the GIANTS responded as Zarlie Goldsworthy shook off a hefty blow to add two goals of her own.

Aimee Whelan stretched the lead again for the Swans until Mowbray gave them a sniff, as Hamilton stopped the GIANTS making a clean break as her side locked down the last minute.

Laura Gardiner was the standout in a Swans on-ball brigade that was able to turn to more contributors, even as the All-Australian led the way with 32 disposals with six clearances as well as eight tackles.

Hamilton made a difference across all parts of the field with 20 disposals to go with her two goals, while Sofia Hurley also gathered 20 touches in another composed display.

The Swans swamped Sarah Grunden after the young forward earned a free kick early in the first term then slotted her first AFLW goal, while adding another just minutes later from almost the same spot.

GIANTS midfielder Mikayla Pauga is set to come under the scrutiny of the MRO after grabbing Montana Ham by the jumper and dragging her to the ground. The Swans' No.1 pick spun around in the tackle before crashing to the turf then took time to get to her feet after hitting her head on the ground.

Ham spent time on the sidelines undertaking a HIA before returning to play, although the Swans were left with only two on the bench for long periods on a day of nasty blows.

The Swans were also without Alice Mitchell for some time after their defender was one of two players caught under a pack in a marking contest near the GIANTS' goal. The GIANTS also lost a player temporarily in the same incident, with Goldsworthy another to come limping to the bench before returning to give her side signs of life.

Captain Bec Beeson led the way in the GIANTS midfield with 25 disposals and 10 clearances, often while going head-to-head in an enthralling duel with Swans gun Gardiner.

Mowbray returned in style in her first match for 337 days since sustaining a torn ACL last year, while Aliesha Newman impressed on her club debut against her former side.

Alicia Eva Turns Back The Clock

The GiIANTS' former skipper has settled into a forward role this season after having a taster last year, but was still able to turn back the clock against the Swans with her experience and persistence. Eva booted the opening goal of the game when she was the quickest to respond to a loose ball in the goalsquare as she pounced to gather cleanly then dribble through a deft kick. The 33-year-old added a second as her side surged in the third term while one of several GIANTS to swamp Swans defenders, setting the tone as the GIANTS pushed the Swans until the dying stages.

Up Next

The GIANTS will return to Henson Park to host the rising West Coast on Sunday from 3.05pm AEST.

SYDNEY                                               3.1       3.4       3.5       6.7 (43)
GIANTS                                                  1.1       1.2       3.4       6.4 (40)

GOALS

Sydney: Grunden 2, C.Hamilton 2, Ham, Whelan
GIANTS: Eva 2, Goldsworthy 2, Garnett, Mowbray

BEST

Sydney: Gardiner, C.Hamilton, Ham, Hurley, Privitelli, Kennedy
GIANTS: Beeson, Srhoj, Eva, Parker, Garnett

INJURIES

Sydney: Nil
GIANTS: Nil

Crowd: 5,530 at Henson Park