Annalyse Lister will make her AFL Women’s debut as one of two new faces in the GIANTS’ side for Saturday’s season-opener against the Gold Coast Suns at Blacktown International Sportspark.
The Harvey Norman team announcement revealed fellow recruit Jess Allan will also make her GIANTS debut while a host of familiar faces will return to the field from long lay-offs.
Lister, who was drafted from VFL Women’s side Darebin with pick 29 of the 2019 NAB AFLW Draft, has impressed both off half-back and in the midfield for the GIANTS across the pre-season.
Formerly an Australian Hockey League player for Victoria, Lister is a hard-bodied 29-year-old who often racked up double figures when it came to tackles whilst playing for the Falcons in 2019.
“She’s chased the AFLW dream and interviewed at a couple of other clubs previously, so she was delighted to get a crack and has been really consistent over our pre-season,” GIANTS AFLW Head Coach Alan McConnell said.
“What she delivers on the training track is very even from one session to the next and she’s a bit more mature age-wise compared to other players we’ve brought in which has made it easier to transition from interstate.
“Annalyse has played a variety of roles for us over the pre-season so she brings versatility, speed and toughness to the group.”
Allan, who joined the GIANTS from Adelaide through a trade in April, will make her first AFLW appearance for the GIANTS, and will play in her first AFLW game since round four, 2018 which coincidentally was against the GIANTS at Blacktown International Sportspark.
The 20-year-old sat out the 2019 season due to her commitments with the Australian Army but has impressed in the ruck and as a forward target across the pre-season.
Allan will share the ruck duties alongside Erin McKinnon and Ingrid Nielsen.
“Jess arrived on our list as a result of circumstances with her work based in Canberra, so it’s worked out really nicely for us,” McConnell said.
“We’re lucky enough that she’s seen fit to connect with us at the GIANTS.
“All three of the girls’ form in different ways has been really pleasing and their form has demanded that I pick them all.”
Canberra’s Britt Tully joins Allan in returning after a year off with the inside midfielder to play her first game since round seven, 2018 while Aimee Schmidt will play her first game since round one, 2019.
Schmidt suffered a serious elbow injury in the opening minutes of round one last year but earned her spot back in the GIANTS’ best 21 after showing versatility in the pre-season practice matches playing at both ends of the ground.
Rebecca Privitelli has also been named in the GIANTS’ forward line and will play her first AFLW game in over two years with her last coming in round one, 2018.
“They’re all good additions and each has a different story … Britt stepped away from the game for 12 months and Priv (Privitelli) I sacked,” McConnell said jokingly.
“They’ve both worked really hard in their time away from the club in various ways to get back to this level.
“’Priv’ is a great story, she’s gone about preparing to play this season in a totally different way to the past, all the while staying in Sydney.
“I’m delighted that they’re both back on board and Aimee had a tough year last year with a pretty significant injury in round one.
“She has remained at the club and worked really hard in our VFLW program and really hasn’t missed a beat over the pre-season.
“She spent time both forward and back which gives us a bit of versatility.”
The game is the first time that the two sides have met with the Gold Coast Suns one of the four expansion sides welcomed into this year’s competition.
McConnell said that while there are some unknowns about the newcomers, he’s confident the GIANTS have done their due diligence in preparing for the Suns.
“I was fortunate enough to watch their game against St Kilda live, so I gained a bit of insight,” he said.
“Obviously, they’ve got a number of girls in their squad who have played AFLW in the past and in particular one was on our list last year and a couple played in our VFLW program as well.
“Individually we have a bit of insight but collectively it’s a new team and in their inaugural year they’ll be pumped up and full of energy so we’re expecting a tough game.”
AFLW Round One - GIANTS v Gold Coast Suns
Saturday, February 8
1:10pm
Blacktown International Sportspark, Rooty Hill
FB: Louise Stephenson, Tanya Hetherington
HB: Pepa Randall, Ellie Brush, Elle Bennetts
C: Jess Dal Pos, Alicia Eva, Nicola Barr
HF: Haneen Zreika, Cora Staunton, Aimee Schmidt
FF: Jodie Hicks, Rebecca Privitelli
Ruck: Erin McKinnon, Rebecca Beeson, Alyce Parker
Interchange: Yvonne Bonner, Ingrid Nielsen, Jess Allan, Annalyse Lister, Britt Tully
Emergencies: Lisa Steane, Tait Mackrill
