Despite going down to the Power in the club’s first pre-season hit-out of the 2023 season, coach Cam Bernasconi is relishing the opportunity for his side to build continuity and consistency across the final weeks of the pre-season.

The GIANTS took on the Power in a four-quarter match simulation at Alberton Oval in Adelaide on Saturday morning, with the small GIANTS squad going down 53-22 to a full-strength Port Adelaide outfit.

The GIANTS travelled with a limited squad to Adelaide to take on the Power, who used the majority of their 30-player squad in rainy and slippery conditions, particularly in the first half.

While the GIANTS were on the wrong end of the scoreboard, Bernasconi said there were plenty of positives to take out of the club’s first AFLW hit-out since October last year.

“It’s great to be back playing some footy, it’s been a long break for the girls,” the second-season coach said.

“It was a good opportunity for our players to get high minutes into them and the result didn’t go our way but today was all about (being a) trial and a chance for us to play our system and some players to play in the orange and charcoal for the first time too.

“There were a lot of learnings from today. We’d probably like to address our contest, that’s probably our big work on from here is that our game is built on contest and ground balls and that’s something we can learn from today and address going forward.

“We’re just trying to get some consistency and continuity in the way we play. Last year we brought in a new system and it looked really good at times but but then quite inconsistent at times.

"We’re getting a number of players back into the side this year, a couple of new recruits but also some injured players as well. It’s a chance for us to understand the way we want to play and come round one, that the players really understand their role and how their weapons really complement the system we want to play this year.”

After joining the leadership group for the first time this season, inaugural GIANT Rebecca Beeson returned to the field for her first game since round nine of the first season last year after spending almost 18 months battling concussion-related symptoms.

The Gabrielle Trainor Medallist quickly made her presence felt, soccering through a goal in the opening quarter and showing her class through the midfield all day.

“It was awesome to get ‘Beeso' back, she’s huge for our footy club, the girls love her,” Bernasconi said.

“Just her ability to come in and play so well today after being out for so long - she started off and then worked her way into the game really well and I think in the last quarter you could just see she’s total class.

“She’s going to be so important for us and the way we want to play this year. Most importantly, it was her first game back and she got through unscathed and played really well which was awesome.”

Second-year GIANT Zarlie Goldsworthy also impressed through the midfield, showing her natural skill to handle the ball in the sloppy conditions.

“Zarlie’s a ripper, she’s one of those players that you draft her last year and she played forward but she was the best midfielder in her Draft from the Coates League so she spent a lot more time around the ball today and she’ll be really important for us,” Bernasconi said.

“Just another player who is a natural footballer - she loves the contest and as it gets harder out there, she gets better so she’s a player we’re really looking forward to having this season but for many more to come as well.”

Saturday’s game also saw some new faces in orange and charcoal with draftee Caitlin Miller - who kicked two goals - and injury replacement player Teagan Germech impressing at either end of the ground.

“They’re two players that we brought in to make us stronger around the ball so Teagan came in and was strong over the footy and at the contest at times for us and that’s where we need to get better at,” Bernasconi said.

“She came in and showed her strengths plenty of times and saved us a few times as well.

“Caitlin’s just a great, little classy forward. She has a couple of shots a game and I reckon she’s going to hit the scoreboard whenever she gets an opportunity.

“It was awesome to see those girls come in and showcase why we drafted them and it was really exciting for them and just for a lot of our younger players that have had a really big 12 months improving and our senior players that have done a lot of work and they all showed moments of why they’re so important to us.”

The GIANTS now take on Richmond in an official AFLW practice match at 4pm on Friday, August 18 at Blacktown International Sportspark before beginning the 2023 season against the Swans at North Sydney Oval on September 3.

The GIANTS expect to regain four-time club champion Alyce Parker, youngster Jess Doyle and backline leader Pepa Randall from injury for the Tigers clash.

Entry to the practice match is free, with the game to be live-streamed on gwsgiants.com.au.