Five GIANTS have been selected in the 2018 Virgin Australia AFL Women’s All Australian squad of 40.
Vice-captain Alicia Eva, Courtney Gum, Phoebe McWilliams, Erin McKinnon and Pepa Randall have been rewarded for their stellar performances throughout the GIANTS’ 2018 campaign.
It’s the second time that both Eva and McKinnon have made the 40-player list, with the duo being nominated in 2017, while Gum, McWilliams
Eva averaged 17.9 disposals per game in 2018, the fourth most in the competition, and 7.4 tackles per game, also ranking her fourth in the competition.
The 26-year-old, who moved from Collingwood to the GIANTS in the 2017 AFLW Trade period, broke the GIANTS’ record for most disposals in a game with 23 touches in the club’s round three win over her former club before fellow All Australian nominee Gum
Gum averaged 14.7 disposals in 2018 and kicked five goals in her seven games. She also set the record for most contested possessions, with 20 in the round six win over the Bulldogs at UNSW Canberra Oval.
Ruck Erin McKinnon went from strength to strength in 2018, backing up her 2017 NAB
Phoebe McWilliams was dominant up forward in 2018, finishing equal-seventh in the league for goals with seven.
McWilliams’ tackling pressure and strong marking was a highlight as she claimed her second successive GIANTS leading goalkicker award.
Congratulations to @phoebe_mcw, who has made the final three for the Woolworths Mark of the Year for her awesome contested grab three-deep against Collingwood!
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) March 21, 2018
Cast your vote for the Mark of the Year: https://t.co/MlPHDNUf3D#NeverSurrender pic.twitter.com/IyFJ3Q15T0
Pepa Randall proved in 2018 that she’s more than just a burrito-eating cult hero. The dashing defender took on opponents of all sizes and was rarely beaten, with her round four effort in shutting down dangerous Adelaide forward Erin Phillips being one of the season’s best performances.
The five GIANTS will find out if they’ve made the final 21-player team at the W Awards in Melbourne on Tuesday, March 27.
Previous GIANTS Virgin Australia AFLW All Australians:
Jessica Dal Pos (2017)
Previous GIANTS Virgin Australia AFLW All Australian Nominees:
Renee Tomkins (2017)
Emma Swanson (2017)
Erin McKinnon (2017)