COMING off a season which saw them accrue only two wins, the Giants will be looking to consolidate their new-look team and rise up the ladder in 2024.

TEAM LIST

#1 Annise Bradfield
#2 Alicia Eva
#3 Alyce Parker
#4 Katherine Smith
#5 Jessica Doyle
#6 Rebecca Beeson
#7 Zarlie Goldsworthy
#8 Nicola Barr
#9 Caitlin Miller
#10 Jasmine Grierson
#11 Chloe Dalton?
#12 Isabel Huntington
#13 Mikayla Pauga
#14 Kaitlyn Srhoj
#15 Eilish O’Dowd
#16 Aleisha Newman
#17 Georgia Garnett
#18 Tarni Evans
#19 Indigo Linde
#20 Fleur Davies
#21 Pepa Randall
#22 Meghan Gaffney
#23 Madison Brazendale
#24 Haneen Zreika
#25 Cambridge McCormick
#26 Claire Ransom
#28 Daisy Walker*
#30 Courtney Murphy
#31 Brodee Mowbray
#33 Emily Pease
#35 Jemma Ramsdale

*inactive player

SQUAD CHANGES

In: Courtney Murphy, Mikayla Pauga, Aleisha Newman, Daisy Walker (inactive player), Claire Ransom, Kaitlyn Srhoj, Indigo Linde, Eilish O’Dowd, Jemma Ramsden

Out: Rene Caris, Ally Dallaway, Jodie Hicks, Annalyse Lister, Tess Cattle, Zara Hamilton, Tait Mackrill, Tegan Germech, Isadora McLeay, Grace Hill

FIXTURE

Match 1: August 31 vs Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval
Match 2: September 8 vs Richmond at Swinburne Centre
Match 3: September 15 vs Gold Coast at Manuka Oval
Match 4: September 22 vs Sydney at Henson Park
Match 5: September 29 vs West Coast at Henson Park
Match 6: October 3 vs Melbourne at IKON Park
Match 7: October 8 vs St. Kilda at Kinetic Stadium
Match 8: October 13 vs Adelaide at Henson Park
Match 9: October 19 vs Hawthorn at Kinetic Stadium
Match 10: October 26 vs Fremantle at Henson Park
Match 11: TBC vs Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Can the youngsters at the Giants continue their growth?

One of the best aspects of the list at the Giants is their core group of experienced players in Nicola Barr, Haneen Zreika, Pepa Randall, Alicia Eva, Alyce Parker, Katherine Smith, Chloe Dalton and Bec Beeson.

They have looked to add to this core with some highly talented youngsters who are still finding their feet at the level like Zarlie Goldsworthy, Georgia Garnett and Tarni Evans.

With Isabel Huntington coming back into the side, as well as recruits Mikayla Pauga and Courtney Murphy, who have moved for more opportunity, the Giants could be big rises in the coming seasons.

Are the Giants at the beginning of their rebuild or just building?

Last year, the Giants conceded the highest average score in AFLW history, which, coupled with having no more than four wins a season, sees the team in freefall.

In his third year as coach, Cam Bernasconi will look to bring in new and exciting talent such as Kaitlyn Srhoj and Indigo Linde, as well as experienced heads like Aleisha Newman to make some difference.

This season the proof will be the pudding; will the Giants start to click or will they stay towards the bottom of the table?

PLAYER TO WATCH

Zarlie Goldsworthy

After a stunning second season last year, young midfielder/forward Zarlie Goldsworthy claimed the Rising Star award in 2023, as one of the best talents under 21 years old.

Goldsworthy averaged 18.3 disposals, 3.3 marks and 6.6 tackles in 2023, while contributing 13 goals.

She will again be one of the Giants to watch off the back of her first Club Champion honours as an important piece of their forwardline and a bigger contributor to their midfield as time goes on.

PREDICTION

After finishing two spots from the wooden spoon, the Giants will look to consolidate their list. They will hope to start to best teams that have less established talent or at least stop conceding such big scores.

The Giants should finish in the bottom half of the bottom ten, however, the growth should be seen and notable against others in that same bracket.