The GIANTS have recruited Collingwood’s AFLW vice-captain and club Best and Fairest runner-up Alicia Eva ahead of the second NAB AFL Women’s season.

The GIANTS’ first trade of the inaugural AFLW trade period saw the club trade picks 1 and 9 to Collingwood for the 26-year-old Eva and the Magpies’ pick 5 as part of a three-club deal.

Eva was recruited from Melbourne University with pick 54 and represented the black and white in the first-ever NAB AFL Women’s season, playing all seven games.  

GIANTS Chief Operating Officer James Avery said the trade was a fantastic result for the club.

“We're delighted to secure a player of the quality of Alicia, both on and off the field,” he said. 

“She brings class and experience to our group on field and importantly her character and leadership off the field will help guide our side, who are young in terms of their football careers. 

“It's a great endorsement of our program to have another player of this quality making the move to Sydney.”

Named Collingwood vice-captain prior to the 2017 season, Eva finished second in the Magpies’ Best and Fairest award and was also named Player’s Player. Eva capped a strong first AFLW season by being named in the preliminary Virgin Australia All-Australian squad. 

In addition to being one of the AFLW’s elite midfielders, Eva is a highly-regarded coach. She is currently the head coach of the Calder Cannons TAC Cup Girls program and was the first female to ever head coach a male high performance side when she led the Calder Cannons U15 boys team. She will continue her coaching ambitions with the GIANTS. 

She is the GIANTS’ first signing for 2018 season with the club to announce further re-signings in the coming days.

The NAB AFL Women’s trade period finishes on Friday, May 26.