Classy youngster Caitlin Miller is the sole inclusion for the GIANTS’ clash with the Crows at Manuka Oval on Saturday.
Miller comes into the GIANTS’ side in place of skipper Alicia Eva who will miss through a one-match suspension handed down following a rough conduct charge against the Tigers last week.
Miller, the GIANTS’ first pick in the 2022 NAB AFLW Draft, will play the second game of her career after making a surprise debut against the Demons in Canberra two weeks ago.
The 19-year-old forward from Queensland was listed as an emergency against the Demons but was thrown into the side just minutes before the first bounce following the late withdrawal of Annalyse Lister with a calf complaint.
GIANTS coach Cam Bernasconi said he would give Miller her moment in the spotlight this week after the unusual circumstances surrounding her debut.
“We’ll look to celebrate Caitlin’s second game as if it’s her first because she didn’t get a proper celebration last time,” he said.
“It’s exciting that we can do that for Caitlin as she’ll be a great inclusion.
“She’ll bring some class for us as she uses the footy really well and also has really good fundamentals which we need in our front half at the moment.”
With his skipper watching on from the sidelines, Bernasconi said his young side would need to lift collectively if they were realistic about taking down the undefeated Crows on Saturday.
“Losing that type of experience, in a game where you’re playing one of the best sides in the competition, it’s not just on one individual to stand up but it’s on all our players,” he said.
“Everyone has to stand a little but taller this week and I’m confident the group will step forward.”
The second-year coach said spirits were high despite the GIANTS’ 0-3 start, with the team upbeat about returning to Canberra looking for their first win of the season.
“The group is really excited as they love getting down to Canberra and playing at Manuka Oval where it’s another opportunity to play against one of the best teams in the competition.
“We are playing some really good sides at the moment so we are putting our system to the test against the best which is where you get your best learnings so everyone is really excited to jump on the plane and head down to beautiful Canberra and try and get a win.”
Match Details
GIANTS v Crows
Saturday, September 23 at 11:05am
Manuka Oval | Ngunnawal Country
Team:
FB: Katherine Smith, Pepa Randall
HB: Chloe Dalton, Grace Hill, Tarni Evans
C: Emily Pease, Alyce Parker, Nicola Barr
HF: Caitlin Miller, Haneen Zreika, Isabel Huntington
FF: Georgia Garnett, Jessica Doyle
RR: Fleur Davies, Annalyse Lister, Zarlie Goldsworthy
Interchange: Jodie Hicks, Teagan Germech, Ally Dallaway, Brodee Mowbray, Rebecca Beeson
Emergencies: Cambridge McCormick, Jasmine Grierson, Tess Cattle
Ins: Caitlin Miller
Outs: Alicia Eva (suspension)
