Alicia Eva will continue as the GIANTS AFL Women’s captain in 2023, with a new era of young leaders set to support the star leader.

Eva, who is just the second person to lead the inaugural AFLW club, enters her fifth season as club captain.

Alyce Parker and Pepa Randall return to the leadership group, while four new names have been added to the cohort for 2023 – Rebecca Beeson, Katherine Smith, Georgia Garnett and Tarni Evans.

“It’s really exciting that we’ve got four new players that have come into the mix,” said GIANTS Head Coach Cam Bernasconi.

“It just shows the growth and journey that we’re on here.

“We’re a young group but we have a really clear plan and vision and the process to get there is through our values. I think we have some really strong leaders to lead these values.

“We have a healthy, diverse leadership group. Everyone is a little bit different, but they just bring their strengths as a leader to support Alicia.”

Eva is recognised as one of the finest leaders in the game and embodies what it takes to be a GIANT.

“It’s a great recognition of Alicia’s contribution to the club for her to continue at the helm and from my end, I couldn’t ask for a better captain,” Bernasconi said.

“You could have easily just re-appointed Alicia because you knew she would win the vote, but it’s good because she gets that recognition again that the players really respect her and that the players want her to lead this group.”

At just 21, Garnett and Evans join the leadership group for the first time.

The pair come off impressive campaigns in season seven, with the duo finishing second and third respectively in the Gabrielle Trainor Medal count.

“The reception that Tarni and Georgia got just shows how popular they are in this group,” Bernasconi said.

“They are young players, but they are playing really good footy. Now they step forward a little bit more and take a bit more ownership and leadership. They don’t need to change; they just need to continue to be themselves and they’ll be great leaders.”

Former Demon Katherine Smith earns her first official leadership role, as does inaugural GIANT Rebecca Beeson.

“These are two players that really have the respect of this playing group,” Bernasconi added.

“The vote and their appointment reflect how they go about it and how they are all in.”

Alyce Parker and Pepa Randall return alongside Eva, with the pair re-elected for their competitive grit.

“We’re really lucky to have these two involved,” said Bernasconi.

“They’re two players who just get the absolute best out of themselves and they really let their footy do the talking on the field.”

The GIANTS finished in 11^th position in season seven, a season where the GIANTS implemented a new brand and DNA under then first-year coach Bernasconi.

The team’s intent in 2023 is to be more competitive and Bernasconi believes he has the people and values in place to make it happen.