FOLLOWING a crucial AFL Special Assistance Package, the GWS Giants were able to pick up another top three selection and head into the draft armed with the two spots straight after the opening pick. There will be a little wait after that for the orange team, but they used the Trade Period to bring in a couple of experienced players at the same time.

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2025 RECORD: 17th (H&A) | 2-10 | 58.9% | Eliminated: Regular Season
2025 PICKS: 2, 3, 57, 75
FUTURE PICKS: ’26 R1 (GWS), ’26 R1 (Adelaide), ’26 R4 (GWS)

LIST CHANGES:

IN
Poppy Boltz (trade, Brisbane), Tilly Lucas-Rodd (trade, Hawthorn)

OUT
Aliesha Newman (retired), Meghan Gaffney (delisted), Vivien Saad (delisted), Haneen Zreika (delisted), Indigo Lindhe (delisted), Sophie Kavanagh (delisted)

GWS Giants have been the one team that has struggled since their inception and despite bringing in some quality youth over the last couple of seasons, still seems stuck in the bottom few spots. While two more star talents will join the western Sydney side, the inclusion of Brisbane’s Poppy Boltz and Hawthorn’s Tilly Lucas-Rodd will add crucial experience to GWS’ defensive half. They also picked up Adelaide’s first rounder next year which will help with matching bids from a talented Academy squad.

FIRST PICK:
Pick 2

The name touted for this selection is Oakleigh Chargers’ Chloe Bown who fits a perfect ball-winning need around the stoppages, and can also go forward and hit the scoreboard. Able to play a similar role to Zarlie Goldsworthy in that rotational mid-forward area, the Vic Metro MVP was tipped to be the first open pool player off the board throughout most of the season.

With Richmond committing to Scarlett Johnson, it leaves Bown available for the Giants who no doubt could not read her name out quicker. The talented midfielder will join the likes of Kaitlyn Srhoj and Sara Howley of previous seasons in being a top-end pick who can make an immediate impact. Watch for her to play from Round 1 if fit and will be a Rising Star contender.

REMAINING CROP:
Picks 3, 57

The general consensus around the draft circles that pick three is also locked in, with Subiaco tall forward Olivia Wolmarans set to join Bown in western Sydney. Starring out west for the Lions, Wolmarans has shown her ability to be a commanding presence inside 50 – a vital need for the score-deprived Giants – and will no doubt provide a great one-two punch.

Wolmarans is athletic in the air or at ground level, can pinch-hit in the ruck, and when she is in form, is near-impossible to try and contain. Watch for her to also start Round 1 if fit and be a key target inside 50 for the Giants.

The only other scenario believed at this stage is a cross-town bid on Sydney Swans Academy tall Alex Neyland. After all the talk on the Gold Coast Suns Academy crop, there is every chance Neyland ends up being the first Academy player called out. Of course, the Giants could well just have some fun and bid on the Suns Academy players such as Ava Usher as well, but they have to keep in mind the short memories of the opposition sides and GWS has quite the Academy haul in 2026.

GWS might only end up using those two selections depending on list spots, so discussing Pick 57 might be moot. The Giants haven’t selected a homegrown Academy talent in a little while, with Canberra product Isla Wiencke being GWS’ sole Draft Combine invitee. A tough inside midfielder-forward, Wiencke would provide immediate support for that contested ball-winning, which is something the Giants struggled with in the absence of Alyce Parker last season.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– Will the GWS Giants bid on Alex Neyland or one of the Suns Academy talents?
– Could the Giants open up a list spot to bring in local prospect Isla Wiencke?
– Can a Giants side with Chloe Bown, Olivia Wolmarans, the two experienced recruits and a fit Alyce Parker push for finals?