GWS GIANTS Academy is on the board in season 2026 after the orange side withstood a gallant third quarter comeback from AFL Sydney’s Under-22 representative side to win by 35 points in the Women’s Summer Series on the weekend. Played at Henson Park as part of a massive day of men’s and women’s action with the Swans and Giants Academies as well as AFL Sydney and AFL Canberra’s brightest prospects, it was the Giants who secured a 10.9 (69) to 5.4 (34) victory over AFL Sydney.

It looked to be the Majella Day show in the first half as the talented Murray Bushrangers forward caused all sorts of headaches for the opposition, kicking three first half goals and then finishing off with a fourth in the last quarter to end the day with 4.3, a couple of scoreless chances and some goal assists as well.

While Day was the dominant force up forward, it was over-age talent Sophia Gaukrodger who was clearly best on ground, working for four quarters and having the ball in a string. She combined well with Darcie Prosser-Shaw, as the latter used her athletic prowess to win possession in all thirds of the ground, but predominantly work well with Gaukrodger at the stoppages and spread froward.

Tall midfielder Zara Neil got her hands dirty in close, teaming up with Giants ruck Ava Saad, while underrated smart forward Georgia Patterson was classy in the front half, kicking a goal on the run and setting up a couple of others. One of three namesakes in the team, twins Ariella and Jade Paterson ran hard on opposite wings.

While not a heap to do at times – particularly in the first half, Alana Fraser had some nice moments disposing out of the back half, while National Academy member Morgan Stevens read the play like a book with countless intercepts when required. Two second half goals from Brea Trevitt proved important in starving off an AFL Sydney comeback, while the likes of Isla Judd, Evie Henley and Ava Brassil had their moments at different points.

For AFL Sydney, two-time Moyston Medal winner Hannah Woolf and former National Academy member Emma Juneja were the clear top two, with Woolf crashing and bashing her way around the inside and spending time at half-forward, while Juneja spread from the contest and also won a lot of ball on the outside and used her footskills to hit-up targets further afield.

Another former Swans Academy midfielder as well as North Shore Bombers premiership player, Lucy Yates won her fair share of the ball, with new teammate Sophie Kavanagh a livewire in the front half. The former Giants and Roos AFLW talent showed plenty wheeling onto her trusty left foot, kicking two goals and looking the most dangerous during AFL Sydney’s forward thrusts.

Though rested for the first half, Niamh McMahon proved to be a super sub of sorts, coming on in the third term and kicking back-to-back goals and providing a spark for AFL Sydney, who kicked four goals to one in the quarter and closed the gap to 23 points at the final break. Ava Barraclough and Taylor Smith looked dangerous themselves from limited chances in the front half, while Lauren Bull showed strong hands behind the ball, and Megan Mifsud and Olivia Morris supported the likes of Woolf and Juneja between the arcs.

AFL SYDNEY 0.0 | 0.2 | 4.3 | 5.4 (34)
GIANTS ACADEMY 3.1 | 6.5 | 7.8 | 10.9 (69)

GOALS:
AFL Sydney: S. Kavanagh 2, N. McMahon 2, A. Barraclough
Giants Academy: M. Day 4, B. Trevitt 2, G. Patterson, A. Paterson, S. Gaukrodger,  A. McHale

RMC BEST:
AFL Sydney: E. Juneja, H. Woolf, S. Kavanagh, M. Mifsud, L. Yates
Giants Academy: S. Gaukrodger, M. Day, D. Prosser-Shaw, Z. Neil, G. Patterson