When the ball is thrown into the air on Saturday afternoon at Casey Fields, it will have been 322 days since the GIANTS’ AFL Women’s team last played for premiership points.
There is a different feeling for the GAINTS heading into the 2018 NAB AFL Women’s season, compared to the excitement surround the corresponding round last year.
There’s hope within the playing group and a burning desire to exceed external expectations. There’s also a confidence bubbling beneath the surface.
A new coach in Alan McConnell, 14 new players and a resounding win over 2017 runners-up, the Brisbane Lions, in a practice match has made that confidence bubble a bit more.
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The Demons also have big expectations hanging over their heads as they head into Saturday’s round one fixture.
Their loss to the GIANTS at Blacktown International Sportspark in round five last year cost them a Grand Final berth.
They enter the game as favourites not only to claim four points but to make it to the Grand Final that eluded them in 2017.
Four of the eight AFLW captains said they think Melbourne is most likely to make the AFLW Grand Final, that’s despite the Demons losing their practice match to Collingwood by three points.
They also boast an equal competition-high five players considered elite by Champion Data’s 2018 AFLW Prospectus. The GIANTS have none.
The game is likely to be won in the midfield with the GIANTS’ new recruits Alicia Eva and Courtney Gum along with mainstays Jess Dal Pos and Britt Tully going up against the likes of Daisy Pearce, Elise O’Dea and Karen Paxman.
Demons turned GIANTS Maddie Boyd and Pepa Randall will be looking to impress while former GIANT Ashleigh Guest will be hoping to do the same in the red and blue.
WHEN AND WHERE: Casey Fields, Saturday, February 3, 5.05pm AEDT
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LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 5, Saturday, March 3 at Blacktown International SportsPark.
GIANTS 3.2 (20) def. Melbourne 1.9 (15)
GOALS
GIANTS: Barclay, Schmidt, Beeson
Melbourne: Phillips
BEST
GIANTS: Dal Pos, Swanson, Collier, Williams, Barclay
Melbourne: Paxman, Pearce, Mithen,
FIVE POINTS:
1. The GIANTS defeated Melbourne by five points in a low scoring contest in wet conditions at Blacktown International SportsPark last year. It was a significant day as the GIANTS recorded their first win thanks to excellent performances from Jess Dal Pos and Emma Swanson while the result meant the Demons missed the 2017 AFLW Grand Final on percentage.
2. The match will be the GIANTS’ first at Casey Fields. Melbourne won two of their three games at the venue. The Demons lost to Brisbane by 15 points in front of 6,500 people in round one, 2017 but finished the season with a competition record 54-point win over Fremantle in round seven.
3. All eyes will be on forwards Alyssa Mifsud (Melbourne) and Phoebe McWilliams (GIANTS) on Saturday. The duo led their respective club’s goalkicking tally with Misfud finishing equal third in the competition with nine goals while McWilliams kicked seven goals to finish equal sixth. McWilliams will be boosted by the addition of key forward Cora Staunton who complements third tall Jacinda Barclay.
4. Only two GIANTS featured in the top 20 for average disposals. Emma Swanson was equal 11th in the competition with 16 per game while Gabrielle Trainor Medallist Jess Dal Pos averaged 13.9 disposals (16th in AFLW). Melbourne on the other hand had four players in the top 20 with Daisy Pearce on top with 21.9 touches a game and teammate Karen Paxman close behind in second with 21.7 disposals per game.
5. New GIANTS coach Alan McConnell will be keen for a win. The 60-year-old was twice caretaker coach for Fitzroy for a total of 11 games, all without success. McConnell was the club’s last ever coach before Fitzroy merged with Brisbane ahead of the 1997 AFL season.
