Inaugural captain Amanda Farrugia will lead the GIANTS’ AFL Women’s team into their second season with star recruit Alicia Eva appointed as her deputy.
Farrugia was officially named captain for the second successive season following a player vote, with the 32-year-old from Seven Hills earning great respect on and off the field during the inaugural NAB AFL Women’s competition.
“It’s obviously a real privilege,” Farrugia said.
“I said that last year and I probably didn’t know what I was getting myself into but now that I know the responsibility involved and the honour it is to run out and lead 30 wonderful young women, it’s a big honour and something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
Vice-captain at Collingwood last season, Eva joined the GIANTS during the first NAB AFLW trade period and has impressed with her leadership and football experience from the moment she arrived at the club.
“I’m pretty pumped to be honest,” Eva said.
“I think this is a really young and exciting team and to work alongside ‘Fridge’ (Farrugia) is going to be super.
“The way in which she leads the team, when she talks everyone just listens and she’s a great representation of this club and I can’t wait to get started in the season.”
Be GIANT in 2018 and become a GIANTS AFLW Supporter Member. Click here for more.
Reigning Gabrielle Trainor Medallist Jessica Dal Pos and former vice-captain Emma Swanson will remain in the leadership group from last season while Victorian recruit Tanya Hetherington has been elevated into the five-person group.
Hetherington joined the club in the off-season and captains Diamond Creek in the VFLW.
Farrugia said she was looking forward to tapping into Eva’s football and coaching experience when it came to leading the GIANTS’ side.
“Alicia’s fantastic, she’s a very well-revered figure in the football industry and there’s a reason for that,” she said.
“She’s got a wonderful football brain and I think above all else she’s a fantastic person so to have her alongside me leading the girls through the season is going to be fantastic and she’s definitely going to be someone I rely on quite regularly.”
After moving north at the end of the first competition, Eva pinpointed the GIANTS’ fresh group - there are 14 new faces amongst the squad of 30 - as an area where her voice on and off the track will pay dividends.
“It is a young group and we have this raw competitiveness so I guess just trying to harness that competitiveness and making sure that comes out in full voice on game day.”
The GIANTS will have their first hit-out this Saturday in a practice match against the Brisbane Lions at Tom Wills Oval in Sydney Olympic Park with free entry for all.
The second NAB AFL Women’s season begins for the GIANTS on Saturday, February 3 against the Melbourne Demons at Casey Fields.
The Grace Group are the proud leadership partner of the GIANTS’ AFLW team. The Grace Group is a leading multi service organisation, which has been providing Australian families and businesses with specialised relocation and storage solutions for over 100 years. To learn more about the Grace Group, click here.
