GWS GIANTS Academy prepared for a third and final round-robin match against their rival NSW/ACT Academy the Sydney Swans with a dominant 117-point thrashing of AFL Canberra in the 2026 Under 22 Women’s Summer Series on the weekend. Played at Henson Park, the Giants – headlined by eight goals to tall forward Majella Day – won 19.10 (124) to 1.1 (7).

It took until the 11th minute of the final term for the AFL Canberra team to finally dribble one home – despite a couple of chances midway through the first quarter – and by then it only cut the margin to 103 points. Prior to that, the Giants had piled on 17 consecutive goals in the first 65 minutes of play, with Day having slotted seven to that point.

From the opening bounce it was clear the match was a one-sided contest with the Giants Academy feeding it to Day on a platter. The Murray Bushrangers and National Academy tall slammed home three goals in the first term, and had her fourth in the opening 30 seconds of the second quarter. On track for double digits, the talented star did give a couple off – and missed a couple that usually resulted in goals to others – to finish with an official 8.2.

While Day was the standout in front of goal, the work of Bushies teammate and bottom-ager Evie Henley across each third of the ground was also a highlight. Henley played off half-back, on-ball and then went forward and slotted a couple of majors in the second half. She was one of six multiple goalkickers, with Sophia Gaukrodger having another prolific game through the middle and booting two majors – and missing a couple of others – in an eye-catching final term on the scoreboard.

Georgia Patterson continued her great start to the season as well with a couple of her own goals and being a team player inside 50, while Brea Trevitt kicked the goal of the day four minutes into the second term. Gathering on the wing, she turned and kicked inside 50, to keep pushing and receive it back before slotting a goal on the run from 35m without breaking stride. Trevitt would kicked two, with Bonnie Swan (two) and Zara Neil (one) the other goalkickers.

Outside the front half players, Morgan Stevens overcame a hurt hand in the opening term to rotate between half-back and the wing, with the Giants heavily rotating players on-ball and in different positions. Annabelle McHale and Lauren O’Sullivan played a half up each end, while Savannah Godde and Addison Hickey were among the plethora of orange team midfielders running around and having their moments.

It was another tough day out for the AFL Canberra team whose sole goal came via Emily Vosnakes midway through the final quarter. Hannah Kearney impressed for the three quarters she was on, but was sent off in a strange decision after a high tackle with no malice, having to sit off nearly the entire third term and a few minutes into the fourth. Grace Read was everywhere with her defensive pressure, while the combination of Claire Callaghan and Maddi McLachlan battled hard against strong opposition.

The final round-robin matches of the tournament take place next weekend with the Giants Academy getting a crack against the Sydney Swans Academy to determine the overall winner, while AFL Canberra clashes with AFL Sydney as both teams search for their first win.

GIANTS ACADEMY 4.3 | 10.4 | 13.5 | 19.10 (124)
AFL CANBERRA 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.1 (7)

GOALS:
Giants Academy: M. Day 8, B. Trevitt 2, S. Gaukrodger 2, E. Henley 2, G. Patterson 2, B. Swan 2, Z. Neil
AFL Canberra: E. Vosnakes

RMC BEST:
Giants Academy: M. Day, E. Henley, S. Gaukrodger, G. Patterson, B. Trevitt
AFL Canberra: G. Reid, C. Callaghan, M. McLachlan, J. Simpson, M. Bailey