It was a big big week at the GIANTS with the club making several moves in both the Trade Period and Draft to bring in a treasure chest of talent ahead of an exciting 2024 AFLW season.

Headlining the massive week was Monday’s AFLW Draft in Melbourne where the GIANTS landed young guns Kaitlyn Srhoj and Indigo Linde.

A promising junior basketballer, Srhoj was snapped up by the GIANTS with pick three in the Draft after a pair of stellar seasons for Peel Thunder in the WAFL as well as her dominant form for Western Australia in the Under-18 National Championships.

Named in the 2023 Under-18 All-Australian team and a part of the AFLW National Academy, the 18-year-old is a smooth-moving 175cm winger with the ability to play as an inside midfielder, while also possessing great hands above her head.

The GIANTS added more fire-power to its emerging onball brigade soon after with the addition of Linde with pick 40 on Monday night.

An exciting midfielder hailing from Victoria, Linde joins the GIANTS following three years in the Coates Talent League where she helped lead the Eastern Ranges to a runner-up finish in the 2023 season.

Coming from a high-level swimming and athletics background, Linde is a strong 171cm winger who was also utilised as an inside midfielder for the Ranges this season.

The two talented teens capped off a huge week for the GIANTS which started last Tuesday when the club traded with the Brisbane Lions to secure exciting premiership forward Mikayla Pauga - and pick 73 - in exchange for pick 24 at Monday’s AFLW Draft.

Still just 20 years old, Pauga joins 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.

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.

More finals experience was added soon after with former Swan Aliesha Newman joining the big big sound.

An exciting small forward with 59 games of AFLW experience, Newman swapped the red and white for orange and charcoal in exchange for pick 30 at Monday’s AFLW Draft. The GIANTS also received pick 34 from the Swans in the deal.  

Born in Victoria, Newman has spent time with Melbourne, Collingwood, and most recently the Swans, after originally being recruited by the Demons as a free agent in 2016.

An explosive footballer who loves to run and carry, Newman can play as a permanent forward or on the wing.   

Using the pick from the Swans, the GIANTS continued to add exciting new talent by acquiring athletic ruck Courtney Murphy in another trade with the Lions.  

A former basketball star and former member of the Brisbane Lions Academy, Murphy joined the Orange Tsunami in exchange for pick 34 at Monday’s AFLW Draft. The GIANTS also received pick 39 in the deal.  

Hailing from the Sunshine Coast, Murphy grew up playing football throughout her teens but recently took a four-year break to play college basketball in the United States before returning to Australia and joining the Lions for the 2023 AFLW season.  

Standing at 183cm tall and full of athleticism, the 23-year-old is an exciting proposition after spending the last year developing her game at the Lions since her switch back from basketball.  

The GIANTS then made the most of the second Delisted Free Agency Period after swooping on talented Tasmanian teenager Claire Ransom and exciting former Blue Daisy Walker on Saturday.

Pick 34 in the 2022 AFLW Draft, Ransom joins the GIANTS from the Gold Coast Suns where she played two games in her debut season before being placed on the inactive list in 2023 for personal reasons. 

A tough but silky-smooth midfielder with great evasive skills, Ransom was drafted by the Suns after starring for the Tasmania Devils in the NAB League girls' competition. 

The gun 19-year-old, who can also play on a wing and up forward, was named in both the 2021 and 2022 NAB League Teams of the Year, while also being named vice-captain in the 2022 side. 

Hailing from Victoria, Walker joins the GIANTS as a delisted free agent after four seasons in navy blue. 

With 31 AFLW games to her name at just 21 years of age, Walker has proven to be a reliable utility in a number of roles since being taken with pick 28 in the 2020 AFLW Draft. 

Capable of playing a lockdown role on dangerous smalls, Walker can also play as an attacking half-back, on the wing, or even up forward. 

As part of the AFLW Trade Period the GIANTS also said farewell to a trio of players, with Jodie Hicks and Ally Dallaway traded to Richmond along with pick 43 in exchange for picks 30 and 69, while Rene Caris returned home to Victoria in a trade with the Saints in exchange for pick 52.

The GIANTS also farewelled Annalyse Lister, who announced her retirement from the game, as well as Teagan Germech, Isadora McLeay, Grace Hill, Tait Mackrill, Zara Hamilton and Tess Cattle.

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