AFLW rising star Georgia Garnett says the GIANTS are better prepared and ready to fire this season as they get ready to kickstart their pre-season campaign this weekend.
Before the GIANTS open their season with the highly anticipated Sydney Derby against the Swans at North Sydney Oval on Sunday, September 3, the GIANTS will be put to the test in a pair of pre-season clashes with Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Saturday and Richmond at Blacktown International Sportspark the following week.
Garnett, fresh off her addition to the GIANTS’ new-look leadership group, said her side was raring to go against genuine opposition.
“It’s nice to wrap up pre-season and actually play some other opponents,” the popular GIANT said.
“The girls are looking good, and fast and fit, it’s pretty exciting.”
The talented 21-year-old said the GIANTS were in great shape heading into season eight of the AFLW competition after another big pre-season under second-year coach Cam Bernasconi.
“There’s just a bit more attention to detail with our game plan [this year].
“Last season we worked a lot on trying to understand what we actually wanted to do, but coming off last season and not having too many changes to the list has helped us all understand a bit better what we need to do.
“It’s more about the running patterns and the minor details of what we have to do to execute better.”
“We all know the game plan ‘Berna’ [Bernasconi] has put in place over the last two years so I’m looking forward to carrying it out on game day.”
After losing passion for the game, Garnett was moved from defence to a role in attack last season where the reinvigorated youngster thrived to finish runner-up in the Gabrielle Trainor Medal.
In a masterstroke of a move, the athletic GIANT finished as the AFLW’s leader in marks (6.4 per game) as she dominated across half forward, also leading the GIANTS for contested marks and goal assists to announce herself as a genuine rising star of the competition.
Garnett said she was loving her time up forward, a role set to continue this season.
“It’s been fun and we’ve got a really great group down forward,” she said.
“I lost the love for the game for a little bit a couple of years ago so it’s nice to try something new and learning something new.”
Garnett will also enter the season with added responsibility after recently being voted into the GIANTS’ new-look six-person leadership group.
“It was a bit of a shock but equally as exciting,” Garnett said on her addition.
“I’m really looking forward to working with some great leaders and ‘Berna’ and Bri [GIANTS Head of Women’s Football Bri Harvey] as well.
“There’s a lot of learning and it’s really exciting.”
Garnett was quick to praise another new member of the leadership group, close friend Tarni Evans.
“Tarni brings energy and brings love, she’s got so much care for this group,” she said.
“And on field as well she’s someone who always stands up when she has to.
“People look to her on field and off field, she’s just someone who stands up every game and its quite inspiring.”
With practice matches against Port Adelaide and Richmond over the coming weekends, Garnett said she was firmly focused on the real deal just a few weeks away.
“We’ll go roll the dice when we go out and play these next two games but the focus is round 1 and coming up against the Swans, and beating the Swans,” she said.
AFLW Match Simulation:
Port Adelaide v GIANTS
Saturday, August 12 at 10am CST
Alberton Oval | Kaurna Country
Tickets for the first nine rounds of the 2023 NAB AFL Women's competition are now on sale, with tickets for round 10 to become available once the fixture is confirmed later in the season.
General admission tickets are $10 for all venues, with free general admission tickets for children aged under 18.
