The GIANTS will unveil their fifth AFLW debutant of the season in the club’s final game this weekend, with teenager Indigo Linde set to take on the Power in Adelaide on Sunday.
Hailing from Victoria, Linde was taken by the GIANTS with pick 40 in the 2023 NAB AFLW Draft 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, the 19-year-old switched her focus to football at the age of 16 and following her strong form as both a winger and inside midfielder for the Ranges was picked up by the GIANTS in last December’s draft.
The strong 171cm midfielder has had a tough run with injury in her debut season, with Linde missing the club’s VFLW campaign earlier this year with a calf injury before re-injuring her calf during the AFLW season and spending six weeks on the sidelines.
Now fully fit after returning to the field via a club scrimmage last week in Melbourne, Linde will realise her AFLW dream in the club’s final game of the season against Port Adelaide on Sunday.
The talented teenager was notified of her upcoming AFLW debut by coach Cam Bernasconi to a huge applause in a team meeting at the club on Thursday afternoon.
“That’s no surprise that reception,” he said following the cheers.
“Over the last few weeks…staff and players are so excited to get you back [from injury].
“You’ve trained yourself into it and you played really well last week [in the scrimmage], but the best part is when players come asking me ‘Is Indi going to play, is Indi going to play?”.
“The players want you to play and we want you to play, and you’ve done an incredible job to come back and get yourself fit and available and it’s going to be awesome to see you make your debut on Sunday. Well done legend.”
Linde, who has already signed a one-year contract extension to see her through until the end of next season, will join Kaitlyn Srhoj, Eilish O’Dowd, Courtney Murphy and Jemma Ramsdale as those to make their AFLW debuts for the GIANTS this season.
The Victorian teenager will make her AFLW debut on Sunday afternoon when the GIANTS clash with the Power at Alberton Oval at 5:05pm (AEDT).
