The GIANTS will open their 2024 AFLW campaign with an exciting clash with the Western Bulldogs in the nation’s capital on Saturday afternoon.
Match Information:
GIANTS v Western Bulldogs
Saturday, August 31 at 1:05pm
Manuka Oval | Ngunnawal Country
State of Play:
GIANTS fans will get their first look at this year’s exciting and new-look AFLW line-up on Saturday as they kick-start their 2024 season in a clash with the Western Bulldogs in Canberra.
After months of preparation, the GIANTS will enter their 2024 AFLW campaign full of enthusiasm and looking to start their season with some momentum with a win over the Dogs at Manuka Oval.
The GIANTS could field a host of fresh faces against the Dogs on Saturday, with the club welcoming nine talented and exciting new players in the off season.
Saturday’s exciting season opener will be a special one for popular midfielder Bec Beeson who will begin her official reign as skipper after recently being voted by her teammates and coaching staff as the club’s new captain.
The GIANTS will enter the clash at almost full strength, with the likes of young stars Zarlie Goldsworthy, Alyce Parker, Georgia Garnett and Tarni Evans all fit and ready to fire against the Dogs.
The week one clash will have further significance for Parker, with the gun midfielder set to play her 50th AFLW match on Saturday.
The Opposition:
The Bulldogs will enter the 2024 season with likely the most change of any club in the competition with a new coach, new captain, new players, new list manager and a new general manager of women’sfooty.
The new-look Dogs will be looking to bounce back from a down 2023 season in which they registered just one win to claim the wooden spoon.
Like the GIANTS, the Dogs will enter the 2024 season with a new leader, with Deanna Berry named the new skipper after a new leadership selection process was introduced ahead of the season. Berry takes the reins from inaugural Bulldog Ellie Blackburn who led the club for six seasons and captained the side to their 2018 flag.
Recent History:
Saturday’s match will mark almost exactly two years to the day that the GIANTS and the Bulldogs last met in an AFLW match, with the sides also kick-starting their 2022 seasons against one another.
Held back on August 28, 2022, it was the Bulldogs who registered a seven-point win at home over the GIANTS in the round one fixture.
In what was Cam Bernasconi’s first match as the club’s new AFLW head coach, the GIANTS stormed home with a big final term but the home side held on to win 6.5 (41) to 5.4 (34) at Ikon Park.
GIANTS Player to Watch:
Superstar Alyce Parker will look to celebrate her 50th AFLW game in style on Saturday as she aims to continue to elevate her standing amongst the competition’s elite.
Drafted ahead of the 2019 season, the country girl from the town of Holbrook in southern NSW is a driving force in the GIANTS midfield, with her clearance work and her raking left boot making her one of the AFLW’s most damaging players.
With a record four club champion awards already to her name after only recently turning 24, Parker looks primed to continue her dominance in season 2024 after a strong pre-season on the track.
Surrounded by a host of exciting fresh faces in a new-look midfield, Parker will once again look to lead the way in the middle alongside the likes of Beeson and Nicola Barr.
The last time Parker faced the Dogs - in the above-mentioned clash in 2022 - the midfield star was the dominant player on the ground, fishing with a match-high 26 touches (five more than anyone else on the ground), to go along with six tackles and a goal.
In the Mix:
With almost the entire squad to choose from, the GIANTS could welcome a number of new faces to the side to open the 2024 season on Saturday.
Former Brisbane Lions premiership winner Mikayla Pauga is one who has impressed over the summer and could be in line to make her GIANTS debut, while O’Dowd continues to impress after only taking up the sport this year after being recruited from Ireland.
Team Selection:
The GIANTS will name their week one team at 6:20pm on Thursday at gwsgiants.com.au.
Rehab Report:
Get a full injury update ahead of Saturday’s season opener here.
Where to Watch:
The GIANTS’ week one clash with the Bulldogs will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally and on 7Mate in NSW and the ACT from 1pm on Saturday.
Social Media:
Follow the GIANTS on Instagram at @GWSGIANTSAFLW, and be part of the #BigBigSound in 2024!
