The GIANTS finished their five-match VFLW campaign unbeaten after capping off a brilliant return to the competition with a dominant 47-point win over Essendon in wet and wild conditions in Blacktown on Sunday afternoon.
Re-introduced to the VFLW this year for the first time since 2019, the GIANTS played five matches across rounds 3-7 as many of the club’s youngsters shone as the GIANTS finished 5-0 following Sunday’s strong win over the Bombers.
Despite missing a host of their more senior AFLW stars, the GIANTS were ruthless in Blacktown on Sunday as they held the visitors goalless in the first half and to just one major for the match to record a 7.13 (55) to 1.2 (8) victory.
Too smart and slick for their counterparts - with their quick hands and link up play both highlights - the GIANTS were red-hot from the get-go despite the chilly conditions at Blacktown, with VFLW train-on Summer Hall kicking a brilliant goal from the boundary line to open the scoring early for the GIANTS.
Emerging AFLW forward Jess Doyle continued the strong start by converting a 30m set shot soon after, before Olivia Edwards made it three goals to zip inside the opening nine minutes before the Bombers could even fire a shot.
The early ascendancy was a sign of things to come for the GIANTS, who were stronger over the ball and cleaner with their hands as they continued to turn defence into offence and convert on the scoreboard.
With Tarni Evans and Katherine Smith leading a defiant defence and former Lion Mikayla Pauga dominating in the midfield, the GIANTS held the Bombers to zero scoring shots in the opening half to hold a commanding 4.8 (32) to 0.0 (0) lead at the main break.
Threatening to rain all afternoon, the heavens opened up during the half-time break with a 15-minute downpour which saw the remainder of the game played in wet and slippery conditions.
While the Bombers finally hit the scoreboard in the third term through Scarlett Orritt, nice goals to train-on duo Sophie Kavanagh and Zoe Hurrell continued the GIANTS’ dominance despite the greasy conditions.
While not the same free-flowing and high-scoring football seen in the first half, the GIANTS’ ability to surge the ball forward and own territory in the final term saw them cruise home to finish their VFLW campaign unbeaten.
A host of GIANTS shared the workload with solid outings in Sunday’s win, with newcomer Pauga (20 touches, six tackles, three clearances) starring once again alongside Madi Brazendale, who capped off her stellar VFLW campaign with a 20 disposal and 12 tackle performance.
Composed winger Emily Pease (18 touches, 11 tackles) was also good, while Evans (18 touches) and Smith (16 touches, three tackles) led a rock-solid defence alongside the emerging Cambridge McCormick (16 touches).
Haneen Zreika (17 touches) was also at her zippy best against the Bombers, while Doyle (15 touches, six marks, one goal) presented strongly all day and young gun Kaitlyn Srhoj (16 touches, three tackles) continued to impress.
Hurrell was arguably the best of the GIANTS’ well-performing VFLW train-on contingent, while Edwards capitalised on her chances as the game’s only multiple goal-kicker.
With the large majority of the GIANTS’ AFLW playing list featuring in at least one of their five VFLW games - and many playing in most - the GIANTS will now look to use their successful VFLW campaign as a springboard for the upcoming AFLW season later in the year.
With their VFLW campaign now over, the GIANTS’ AFLW list will continue their home programs until officially returning to the club in June for pre-season.
VFLW Round 7
GIANTS: 3.4. 4.8. 6.12. 7.13 (55)
Bombers: 0.0 0.0 1.1 1.2 (8)
Goals
GIANTS: Edwards 2, Garnett, Doyle, Hall, Kavanagh, Hurrell
Bombers: Orritt
