The GIANTS have named their squad to take on the West Coast Eagles on Sunday at Blacktown International Sportspark with forward Jacinda Barclay in line to play her first game of the season.
The tough goalkicker comes into the squad with ruck Erin McKinnon the only player confirmed out from the side that lost to the Kangaroos last Saturday.
GIANTS AFL Women’s Head Coach Alan McConnell said Barclay will add to their forward firepower.
“Jacinda had an unfortunate hiccup leading into pre-season which meant that she missed a couple of weeks of training,” he said.
“She would have been in our starting line-up for round one, she’s very attacking and has a history of kicking goals for us.
“Jacinda adds to our firepower up forward and as a result of that the Erin comes out.”
Barclay has kicked 10 goals in 18 games for the GIANTS but also offers great defensive pressure up forward, with the 29-year-old known for her tackling.
Midfielder Tait Mackrill and forward Sarah Halvorsen have also been added to an extended interchange, with Halvorsen to make her AFLW debut if she is included in the final team to be named at 4pm on Friday.
While the GIANTS were in arms reach of the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos for most of their clash last Saturday, McConnell has worked on improving his side’s ball use in preparation for the Eagles.
“We need to be better with ball in hand, both execution and decisions,” he said.
“Making decisions and executing those decisions need to be better if we’re to kick more goals, and we need to kick more goals to be able to win.
“It’s one thing to be competitive for periods of a game but it’s another thing to put scoreboard pressure on the opposition.”
Newcomers West Coast, who feature former GIANTS Emma Swanson and Maddie Collier, have had a tough start to their time in the AFL Women’s competition having lost their opening two fixtures.
Despite their winless start, McConnell is wary of the Eagles.
“I wouldn’t read too much into their form, they’ve probably played the two best form teams in the competition to this point in both Collingwood and Fremantle,” he said.
“They’ve had some really good passages of play over the last couple of games that they’ve played.
“Last Saturday’s game, the Derby, was particularly intense, very physical so it will be interesting to see how they back up from that with travel. I’m expecting a very competitive opposition.”
Round 3
GIANTS v West Coast Eagles
Sunday, February 23 at 1:10pm
Blacktown International Sportspark
FB: Pepa Randall, Tanya Hetherington
HB: Jessica Dal Pos, Elle Bennetts, Annalyse Lister
C: Yvonne Bonner, Alicia Eva, Rebecca Beeson
HF: Aimee Schmidt, Cora Staunton, Jodie Hicks
FF: Ingrid Nielsen, Rebecca Privitelli
Ruck: Jess Allan, Britt Tully, Alyce Parker
Interchange (from): Nicola Barr, Lisa Steane, Jacinda Barclay, Louise Stephenson, Haneen Zreika, Tait Mackrill, Sarah Halvorsen
In: Jacinda Barclay, Tait Mackrill, Sarah Halvorsen
Out: Erin McKinnon (omitted)
