The GIANTS will crown their fifth AFL Women’s club champion on Thursday night with the awarding of the 2021 Gabrielle Trainor Medal.
With the 2021 All-Australian Team selected last week, GIANTS midfielder Alyce Parker is certain to fare well throughout the count.
But with some of the league’s brightest upcoming stars featuring for the GIANTS this season, we take a look at who could take home the Gabrielle Trainor Medal.
Previous Winners
2017 – Jessica Dal Pos
2018 – Alicia Eva
2019 – Rebecca Beeson
2020 – Alyce Parker
Alyce Parker
Alyce Parker has been a dominant force for the GIANTS since debuting in 2019 and it’s easy to forget she’s still just 20-years-old.
The Holbrook local backed up an outstanding 2020 season with an equally impressive 2021 season, with the youngster no doubt the favourite to take home the Gabrielle Trainor Medal for the second consecutive season.
Parker sat atop of the stats board for not only the GIANTS but also the competition right from the opening round in 2021.
She finished the season with the equal-highest average disposals for the league with 23.9 a game, whilst also averaging 5.6 clearances and 5.1 tackles to further enhance her reputation as one of the competition’s best.
Rebecca Beeson
Yet to miss a game after being drafted in 2016, the 2019 Gabrielle Trainor Medallist averaged 21.7 disposals and 5.3 clearances in 2021.
After bursting onto the scene in as a forward, Beeson was moved into the midfield and has excelled there, establishing herself as one of AFLW’s best.
Annalyse Lister
Lister played a variety of defensive roles throughout her second season at the GIANTS.
While the ever-reliable defender doesn’t find a lot of the ball, Lister has developed into one of the most highly regarded defenders in the competition.
With the Gabrielle Trainor Medal judged by the coaches, it should come as no surprise to see Lister poll well.
Georgia Garnett
Garnett, a product of the AFL NSW/ACT pathway, debuted for the GIANTS in round three this year in her second year in the program.
After making her debut against the Gold Coast, the 19-year-old went on to play all remaining games for the GIANTS in the nine-round season.
With abilities as a utility, Garnett played predominately in defence, and was rewarded for her outstanding debut season with selection in the 22under22 AFLPA team.
Jessica Dal Pos
Part of the 2017 All Australian squad, Dal Pos took her game to a new level in 2021 with a new role on the half-back flank.
The inaugural recipient of the Gabrielle Trainor Medal, Dal Pos is tipped to poll well throughout the night.
Cora Staunton
Staunton led the GIANTS for goals scored for a second year in a row, with a total of 10 goals for the season.
The 39-year-old is the oldest player in the competition but was a consistent performer for the GIANTS in her fourth season.
Alicia Eva
After winning the award in 2018, the GIANTS skipper is an outside chance to claim her second Gabrielle Trainor Medal.
Averaging 16.6 disposals this season, Eva led from the front in 2021, forming a formidable partnership through the midfield with Alyce Parker, Britt Tully and Bec Beeson.
Elle Bennetts
Having finished second in the Gabrielle Trainor Medal last year, Bennetts might go even better this time round.
The netballer-turned-defender continued to go from strength to strength in 2021, averaging 14.8 disposals and 3.1 marks showcasing her toughness around the contest and elite disposal by foot.
How does the count work?
After every game, Head Coach Alan McConnell and his assistant coaches award votes to players as they see fit on a scale of 1 to 4 with maximum of 16 votes in a round.
The votes from across the season are then tallied up with the player with the most votes being crowned the Gabrielle Trainor Medallist.
