A MUST-WIN clash between the two bottom AFL Women’s sides takes place tomorrow with the Gold Coast Suns hosting GWS Giants at People First Stadium. The Suns are reeling off a big loss to Port Adelaide where they lost three key players to injury and are the walking wounded. GWS has come close at different points but is still 0-3, and is in the rare position of heading in as favourites.

NEED TO KNOW

Date: Saturday, September 6
Venue: People First Stadium
Time: 1:05pm local

TEAMS

Gold Coast:

GWS:

CHANGES

Gold Coast’s injury crisis from last week has further impacted the Suns in Round 4 with the three hurt in the Round 3 loss to Port Adelaide all listed as outs. Defenders Charlotte Wilson (leg) and Meara Girvan (concussion) are both out, with star midfielder Charlie Rowbottom (shoulder) also not getting up for the clash. Injury replacement tall Tayla Gregory has been omitted, with four inclusions returning to the Suns.

After being a late withdrawal last week, Claudia Whitfort is back in the side. The talented midfielder is there alongside ruck Lauren Bella, as well as Wallis Randell and Keely Fullerton.

GWS has far less instability in terms of change from last week to Round 4, with only the injured Alicia Eva (hamstring) out in exchange for first-year player Grace Kos.

MISSING IN ACTION

Alongside the already injured trio, Gold Coast is still waiting on Katie Lynch‘s ankle and Sienna McMullen‘s foot, though in some good news, Tara Harrington‘s return from an ankle injury looks promising, named as one of three emergencies and is not far off a debut.

The Giants have lost Eva for at least the next month, joining Alyce Parker and Caitlin Fletcher on the injury list. Aleisha Newman is nearing a return from a hamstring injury in some good news for the orange team.

WHERE IT’S WON

The bottom two sides have clearly struggled defensively at times this season, and though competitive at other moments, ultimately are yet to take home any premiership points. The Giants look the far more stable side with Gold Coast not only losing two key defenders in Wilson and Girvan, but Rowbottom as well. Though the latter essentially negates the Giants’ season-ending loss of Parker, it will be far harder to make do without the defensive posts.

GWS does not necessarily have a massively potent forward line, but Tarni Evans showed in her three-goal first term against the Pies she can do some damage, while former number one draft pick Isabel Huntington will be a handful for the Dogs defence. Throw in Georgia Garnett, and the aerial ability and height of the Giants will certainly test the Suns in this one.

Gold Coast simply has to win it out of the middle or it will be a long night for the Suns. Whitfort, Lily Mithen and Lucy Single are vital in getting the game on the home side’s terms, while Giants midfielder/forward Zarlie Goldsworthy is no doubt the number one name circled on Rhyce Shaw‘s board to try and stop.

The Suns do have some talent up forward highlighted by pick two and Rising Star Havana Harris as well as the dangerous Jamie Stanton. Gold Coast must use the ball well going inside 50 with Cambridge McCormick an in-form rebounding machine with a potent kick. She can try and get it to the runners such as Sara Howley and Madison Brazendale who will try and catch the Suns on the hop.

PREDICTION

After last week and recent form it is difficult to see how the Suns can turn it around with an even deeper injury crisis now. The Giants simply must win this game given how inexperienced the Suns are, and have been a little more competitive throughout. While Eva is a loss, the orange side is primed to win on the road against a Suns team that is very young. Giants by 26 points.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Round 4 action kicks off at Casey Fields tomorrow from 12:35pm where the unbeaten Narrm (Melbourne) will look to tackle the winless Richmond. The Tigers have swung the axe at the selection table with a few unforced changes and made four all up, including the long-awaited debut of former Crow Montana McKinnon. Narrm has regained the services of defender Gabby Colvin which will be a relief for coach Mick Stinear after a scare against the Magpies last week.

Carlton and the Western Bulldogs go head-to-head at Ikon Park having both had low-scoring losses to the Hawks in recent weeks, but also notching up an important win in the other. The Blues are favourites and will debut Maddison Torpey in light of the injury to Jess Good, while Deanna Berry adds experience for the Dogs in her return to the side.

In the other Saturday match, AFLW heads up to Cazalys Stadium in Cairns where Hawthorn welcomes Euro-Yroke (St Kilda). Since the Saints knocked off the Crows in a stunning upset in Round 1, it has been a tough time, but they will be looking to topple the Hawks who are no stranger to grinding tight wins. Both sides have lost players to injury with Bianca Jakobsson finally playing her first game in 2025, while Hawks teens Sophie Butterworth and Lavinia Cox return, as does Charlotte Simpson for the Saints.