GWS GIANTS had a local feel for the most part to their AFLW Draft focus, bringing in a trio of talented players, two of which came from the Giants’ own Academy. The weighing up of local prospects against interstate ones was always going to be a feature, and in the end the Giants brought in one of each with their first two picks.

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DRAFT HAUL

Pick 2. Scarlett Johnson
Pick 3. Kiera Yerbury
Pick 55. Yasmeen Janschek

>> CLICK each player’s names for full profiles & highlights

The Giants were linked to Olivia Wolmarans and Chloe Bown outside the local hopes, but when the Tigers flipped to Wolmarans with Pick 1 and the Giants erred on the side of caution with local talents around the mark, went for Victorian Johnson and Swans Academy member Yerbury instead.

Johnson is a super athletic utility who can play wing, half-forward or half-back, and is strong in the air and a good size at 175cm. Her skills and smarts are great, and she looms as a high-upside prospect of the future who adds a point of difference to the Giants outfit. Most importantly for the orange team, Johnson was seen as a long-term rock solid investment, and the Northern Knights junior was picked up with the second selection.

Providing a more inside edge – though she can also play forward – the Giants were happy to bid early on Yerbury knowing the position the Swans had put themselves in meant Sydney would have to choose between her or Alex Neyland. In the end, Sydney had to allow Yerbury to go despite wanting to keep the talented midfielder, and the North Shore Bombers youngster was taken at pick three.

She can use both sides of her body and play forward as well as her predominant midfield, while also having some outstanding speed and endurance. Athleticism was a theme for the Giants, with a second local prospect also picked up later in the draft when the Giants called out the name of the raw, but talented Janschek.

The 184cm Janschek was a talented netballer on track to reach a high level, but instead changed course when she got involved with her football. Though 2025 was the first year she actually played competitively, the towering ruck showed plenty through the Giants Academy and eventually Sandringham Zebras in the VFLW. She is definitely a long-term prospect but one with a huge leap and fantastic upside.

GRADE: B

GWS Giants picked players on upside with great athleticism. They could hardly go wrong, and while they were cautious with the ‘go home’ factor always an issue, have been able to include some prospects who add spark and X-factor to the side.