The GIANTS have signed Irish women’s footballer Bríd Stack for the upcoming AFLW season as an international rookie.

Stack is an 11-time All-Ireland winner for Cork and was named the 2016 Ladies Footballer of the Year.

Stack, 34, will be the latest Irishwomen to join the club, following the successful transitions to AFLW by Cora Staunton and Yvonne Bonner in recent years. 

AFLW coach Alan McConnell said he’s delighted to add a highly-rated defender, albeit from another sport.

“After three years of interest on our part, it’s really exciting to have Bríd Stack finally make the decision to come to Australia and be part of our list,” said McConnell.

“Bríd is a key defender with great speed, good agility, is very competitive and has a long history of having high-level success in women’s football in Ireland.

“This is a recruiting model that we’ve followed with our two other Irish girls and have had great success with Cora and Yvonne in recent years and we hope to get the same outcome with Bríd.

“What an amazing thing for our footy club, that a young woman is willing to not just move herself here to play Aussie Rules but to bring her 12-month old son and her husband, as well, in the current COVID-19 environment. 

“It’s just an amazingly courageous thing to do. We’re grateful and hopefully we can make the best of the opportunity for all involved.”

After this week’s NAB AFLW Draft and the signing of Stack, the GIANTS have finalised their squad for 2021. 

The majority of the playing group will return for training in early November as the team sets their sights on another finals campaign

The trio of Stack, Staunton and Bonner are currently in Ireland and will re-join their teammates in Sydney later in the year.