Your one-stop shop to get involved as the GIANTS play in their big big homecoming in Canberra on Saturday afternoon against the Lions.
Where and When: Manuka Oval, Saturday March 6 at 3:10pm
Tickets: All AFLW matches are ticketed in 2021 and all attendees must obtain a ticket in advance of the match via the applicable vendor. This includes juniors under the age of 18, as well as GIANTS AFLW Members. Members will receive an email with a barcode to redeem their free ticket prior to tickets going on sale. Tickets will go on sale to GIANTS Members at 11am Thursday, March 4 and to the public at midday.
Last time they met: It was round four of 2020 that the GIANTS and the Lions last met; with the GIANTS travelling North to take on the Lions at Hickey Park in Queensland. The day went the way of the home side, with the Lions taking the win by 28 points. It was just two goals the difference at the main break, but a strong third quarter from Lions - scoring an unanswered three goals - set them up to take the victory. The workload was spread evenly across the GIANTS, with nine players sitting in the 10-15 disposal count and the three goals coming from Rebecca Privitelli, Yvonne Bonner and Aimee Schmidt.
TV and Online: All AFLW matches are available live on Foxtel, Kayo, the AFLW Online site, AFL Telstra TV App and on the AFLW and AFL Official Apps. GIANTS matches are also broadcast live into NSW and the ACT free-to-air on 7mate.
What it means for the GIANTS: After a 25-point loss to the Bulldogs last week, the GIANTS remain in 10th position with a 2-3 win-loss ratio from their five games so far this season. Their two wins come from teams beneath them and as expected, their three losses come from teams within the top six. The GIANTS will be looking to return to the winners’ list this weekend, with a win needed to keep their hopes of returning to the finals alive. The GIANTS will look to make the most of a home-ground advantage, with the Lions yet to play a game at Manuka Oval in the history of the AFL Women’s competition.
Where’s the opposition at: The Lions are tracking in some good form once again this season, currently sitting in second position, recording just the one defeat in round four courtesy of the Adelaide Crows. The Queensland-based team lead the competition for average kicks and goals, averaging six goals per match. They come off a low-scoring win against the also in-form Fremantle Dockers, with only four goals scored across both teams for the duration of the match.
The number: 722. It will have been 722 days since the GIANTS last played an official NAB AFL Women’s competition match at Manuka Oval in Canberra. It was Friday, March 15 2019, round seven, when the GIANTS and the Cats played off in their final match of the season. This weekend’s match marks a big big homecoming for the club with AFLW unable to play in Canberra in 2020 due to the Women’s Cricket World Cup and the AFL team locked out during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
In the mix: With the GIANTS not hitting the scoreboard as much as they would have liked in round five, a change in the forward line might see an opening for a player like Aimee Schmidt. Schmidt played in the opening two games for the GIANTS and scored the GIANTS’ opening goal of the season in round one. If change is to occur across other areas of the ground, Lisa Steane or Erin Todd may be a chance of returning to the squad, or we could see a new GIANT be introduced in defender Libby Graham.
