The GIANTS have named their 23-player squad to take on Brisbane at Hickey Park on Sunday.
Sarah Halvorsen and Tait Mackrill have again been named on an extended interchange and would both come in for their first games of the season should they make the final team to be announced at 4pm on Friday.
Match Preview: Look ahead to the GIANTS' round four clash with the Brisbane Lions.
GIANTS AFLW Head Coach Alan McConnell said the side has started to find its groove with new GIANTS Jess Allan, Annalyse Lister and Lisa Steane all impressing over the first three rounds.
“I think those three new players added to the line-up, plus a number of girls who have actually been given different roles this year in Elle Bennetts, Nicola Barr and Yvonne Bonner, have been good,” McConnell said.
“We’ve turned things upside down a little bit compared to last year and I think we’re still looking to sort of cement all of that down and gel as a team, and that’s why getting better connection in the team was really rewarding last week.”
The GIANTS head into Sunday afternoon’s clash off the back of a 28-point-win over West Coast while the undefeated Lions will be looking to bounce back after recording a draw against the Gold Coast Suns in the inaugural QClash.
“They’re very consistent, their game style hasn’t changed too much,” McConnell said.
“They’ve had a great start to the season so no doubt they’ll be disappointed with the draw last weekend, so it’ll be an interesting contest.”
The GIANTS have lost all three of their competitive matches against Brisbane despite having chalked up three consecutive pre-season wins over the Lions.
While the GIANTS kept Brisbane goalless when they faced off in a practice match at Tom Wills Oval in late January, McConnell is well and truly aware of the history between the two sides.
“There’s an interesting history there and this week is a great opportunity to address that,” he said.
“There’s also the opportunity to begin the season with a three-one win-loss ratio, which would be a fabulous start to the season.
“Going on the road has a lot of challenges but this game is a significant one in the short history of our club being in the women’s competition.”
Brisbane Lions v GIANTS
Hickey Park, Brisbane
Sunday, March 1 at 5:10pm AEDT (4:10pm local time)
FB: Pepa Randall, Tanya Hethernington
HB: Jess Dal Pos, Elle Bennetts, Annaylse Lister
C: Yvonne Bonner, Alicia Eva, Nicola Barr
HF: Haneen Zreika, Cora Staunton, Jodie Hicks
FF: Ingrid Nielsen, Rebecca Privitelli
Ruck: Jess Allan, Alyce Parker, Rebecca Beeson
Interchange (from): Britt Tully, Lisa Steane, Jacinda Barclay, Louise Stephenson, Aimee Schmidt, Tait Mackrill, Sarah Halvorsen
In: Tait Mackrill, Sarah Halvorsen
Out: -
