The GIANTS will be bolstered by premiership talent in season 2024 after trading with the Brisbane Lions for exciting young forward Mikayla Pauga.

The GIANTS sent pick 24 to the Lions in exchange for Pauga and pick 73 at next week’s 2023 AFLW Draft.

Still just 20 years old, Pauga will join the GIANTS just weeks after hoisting the 2023 AFLW Premiership Cup as part of Brisbane’s Grand Final-winning side.

Selected by the Lions with pick 46 in the 2021 AFLW Draft, Pauga is a dynamic small forward with strong inside ball-winning abilities which gives her the flexibility to also play through the midfield.

Hailing from Queensland, Pauga honed her skills in the NAB AFLW Academy and in the Queensland U19 side before being drafted through eye-catching performances as an 18-year-old with Grand Final runner-up Bond University in the QAFLW in 2021.

Debuting in round five of season seven, the dangerous small forward played 15 games for the Lions but will now swap the maroon, blue, and gold for orange and charcoal.

Pauga is also a keen academic and as a 17-year-old was awarded a Riewoldt Family AFL Excellence Scholarship to study psychology at Bond University.

GIANTS Executive General Manager - Football Strategy and Operations, Briana Harvey, said the club is thrilled with the acquisition.

“Adding a premiership player to our emerging group is extremely exciting and we can’t wait to welcome Mikayla to the club,” Harvey said.

“While still only 20 years old, you can’t put a price on premiership-winning experience and having a young player who has seen first-hand what it takes to win at the highest level will be invaluable to our group.

“Mikayla has already shown she’s filled with talent and we can’t wait to see that at the GIANTS and help her develop into an even better player in orange and charcoal.”

The acquisition comes off the back of the club securing a host of young talent long-term including four-time Club Champion Alyce Parker, AFL Rising Star Zarlie Goldsworthy as well as Tarni Evans and Georgia Garnett.