GIANTS AFLW coach Cam Bernasconi is excited for his emerging side to be tested against one of the benchmarks of the competition in Saturday’s official AFLW practice match against the Kangaroos in Blacktown.
After taking on the Swans last week in a match simulation, the GIANTS will now take on the Kangaroos in their final pre-season tune-up ahead of their exciting round one clash with the Western Bulldogs in Canberra on Saturday, August 31.
Bernasconi said Saturday’s clash with last year’s grand final runners up is the perfect preparation leading into the season.
“It’s a great opportunity for the playing group this weekend to see how we are going against the best sides,” he said.
“Practice games are all about learning and seeing how your system stacks up against other sides so to play one of the benchmark sides from last year is exactly what you want in a practice game.
“There’ll be a really clear message and focus for us to play our way for four quarters.
“Yes, there’ll be some strategies to halt what they do, but probably more importantly it’s another four quarters for us to get our system right before round one.”
Last week the GIANTS unveiled all eight fresh faces for this season against the Swans, with Bernasconi thrilled with the performances of the new talent.
“It was really exciting to see all these new faces come in and bring their strengths within our game plan and the more they play and train the more we’ll see their strengths come out in that,” he said.
“There were lots of nerves last week building into it, you could feel it. But this week there is a real sense of calmness now that they have played their first game and everyone is really excited to get another four quarters together.”
With the AFLW season fast approaching, Bernasconi’s squad is in a healthy position as players battle it out for spots in the club’s opening round clash with the Western Bulldogs in just two weeks’ time.
“We are in a really strong position where we are comfortable to pick every magnet on our board which is something that lifts the standards of training and not only helps us going forward but allows us to pick a really strong team come round one,” he said.
“Selection is going to be tough but that’s a great spot to be in and it shows there’s been a real improvement in the group. The girls will have this weekend and another couple of weeks of training to earn their round one jumper.”
The GIANTS’ pre-season clash with the Kangaroos kicks off at 11am in Blacktown on Saturday and will be live streamed at gwsgiants.com.au.
The GIANTS will then kick-start their 2024 campaign with an exciting round one clash with the Western Bulldogs in Canberra on Saturday, August 31.
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