AFLW star Haneen Zreika and new recruits Claire Ransom and Courtney Murphy have been added to a strong VFLW lineup for the club’s clash with the Southern Saints at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday.
A 48-game veteran for the club’s AFLW side, Zreika will bolster a GIANTS team looking to make it two from two in its return to the VFLW competition after taking down the Carlton by eight points last weekend in the club’s first VFLW game since 2019.
One of the club’s most diligent players, Zreika will be looking to use the VFL as a warm up for another strong AFLW campaign, with the 160cm pocket rocket taking out the club’s Coaches Award last year after averaging 13 touches and 8.8 tackles per game across a variety of roles.
Meanwhile Ransom and Murphy will represent the orange and charcoal for the first time on Saturday after joining the club in the summer from the Gold Coast Suns and the Brisbane Lions respectively.
Hailing from Tasmania, Ransom was originally taken with pick 34 by the Suns in the 2022 AFLW Draft where she went on to play two games in her debut season before being placed on the inactive list in 2023 for personal reasons.
A tough but silky-smooth midfielder capable of playing all over the ground, the 20-year-old will be looking to replicate her form for Tasmania in the Coates Talent League where she was named in both the 2021 and 2022 Team of the Year.
Murphy, an athletic young ruck, will also play her first game in GIANTS colours on Saturday after the former basketball star joined the club in a trade with the Brisbane Lions in the summer
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.
The GIANTS’ VFLW side will consist of 14 AFLW- listed players against the Saints, with stars Zarlie Goldsworthy and Tarni Evans headlining the contingent once again.
Youngster Shiarna Tarasenko and Zoe Hurrell, both train on players with the club’s VFLW program, have also been added to this weekend’s side.
With the club playing five games in this year’s VFLW fixture from rounds 3-7, the GIANTS will look to rotate the majority of its AFLW list through the competition.
The GIANTS and the Saints will clash at 1pm on Saturday at Blacktown International Sportspark.
How to watch:
All VFLW matches will be live streamed free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
Visit: afl.com.au/stream-vfl and follow the links. All matches will be available to watch on demand.
Match details:
VFLW Round 4
GIANTS v Saints
Saturday, April 13 at 1pm
Blacktown ISP | Darug
Team:
FB: Cambridge McCormick, Daisy Walker
HB: Teagan Germech, Tarni Evans, Grace Buchan
C: Emily Pease, Kaitlyn Srhoj, Madison Brazendale
HF: Jessica Doyle, Haneen Zreika, Shiarna Tarasenko
FF: Courtney Murphy, Zarlie Goldsworthy
RR: Fleur Davies, Mikayla Pauga, Claire Ransom
Interchange: Summer Hall, Zoe Hurrell, Caitlin Fletcher, Olivia Edwards, Eilish O’Dowd
Ins: Haneen Zreika, Claire Ransom, Courtney Murphy, Shiarna Tarasenko , Zoe Hurrell
Out: Sophie De Castella, Sophie Kavanagh, Megan Misfud, Amelie Prosser-Shaw, Charlotte Canavan
