The GIANTS have added more fire-power to their emerging onball brigade with the addition of exciting midfielder Indigo Linde with pick 40 at the 2023 AFLW Draft on Monday night.
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.
Missing the front half of 2023 due to stress fractures, the 18-year-old finished the season in strong fashion, averaging 17 disposals, three tackles, and three inside 50’s per game to place herself on the radar of AFLW clubs.
“Indi’ is a player with big upside given the way she built into her season for Eastern,” GIANTS AFLW List Manager Tyson Bourke said.
“Her coach Ash Close moved her from the wing to play more inside as the year went on where she really showed her ability to drive her legs out of congestion and use her size around the ball.
“Indi’s weapon is her running power and we look forward to adding that to our midfield group.”
Starting out playing football via her dad who started a girls’ team in the small Victorian town of Monbulk, Linde eventually made her way to Mount Evelyn where she made her senior women’s debut in 2022.
Showing a strong ability to perform under pressure, Linde’s best performances of 2023 was during the Eastern Ranges’ three-game finals campaign, with the tough young teen one of her side’s best in their seven-point Grand Final loss to the Oakleigh Chargers in September.
Linde joins the GIANTS alongside fellow draftee Kaitlyn Srhoj who the club took with pick three in Monday’s AFLW Draft.
