Young GIANTS Dylan Shiel and Maddy Collier came together on Thursday to celebrate the club’s historic double-header at Blacktown International Sportspark on Friday night.
AFL Women’s player Maddy Collier faced the media alongside AFL midfield star Dylan Shiel with both sides looking forward to the unique event.
“It’s really excellent, it’s the first time that we’ve actually played at the same ground as the men’s game so to be equal to our male counterparts for this first game is really exciting,” Collier said.
“I know we’re all looking forward to it so hopefully some GIANTS fans will get down and come watch us as well.”
The GIANTS’ AFLW team kick off the night at 5:05pm as they take on Melbourne, still looking for their first win of the seven-week season following a big loss to Brisbane last weekend.
“We were a bit disappointed with our effort but the good thing about this competition is we can look forward to next week so we’ve been really knuckling down in training and have looked at what we did last week and are looking to improve this week,” Collier said.
Shiel, who joined the GIANTS in 2011 as a 17-year-old access selection, had some sage advice for the club’s AFLW team, being part of the GIANTS side from 2012-13 that won just three games in two seasons.
“You’ve just got to stick to the process and keep the faith,” he said.
“Fortunately we’ve built a really good bond at this footy club with the playing group. If you stick together over the years and stick to the process it definitely turns your way.”
Shiel’s words of wisdom came off the back of co-captain Phil Davis who addressed the entire AFL Women’s team on Tuesday night, drawing parallels between the journeys of both teams.
Shiel said it wasn’t just about wins and losses.
“For me, it’s not so much looking at the on-field performances but seeing the off-field growth that the women’s team are doing for this football club,” Shiel said.
“It’s going to be a fantastic night to have both teams playing tomorrow, just for our fans to be engaged in this footy club.
“It just reminds me of being a kid and watching my local footy team play and you get to watch all teams play one after another.”
Shiel is among a host of GIANTS stars who’ll make their first pre-season appearance against the Swans on Friday night in the club’s second JLT Community Series match.
It was a young side who faced the West Coast Eagles for a 33-point win in round one and Shiel was pleased by the endeavour shown by that group.
"I was really impressed but really stressed too, because I was thinking my position was in a bit of danger," he said with a laugh.
"Tim Taranto has been fantastic, the boys around here call him the weapon because he's a bit of a specimen, and the way he goes about his footy is just elite.
"Will (Setterfield) is a fellow Caulfield Grammarian boy so I'd expect nothing less of him.”
Off-season surgery to remove a bone spur from his right heel has hampered Shiel's summer, but after training solidly with the GIANTS' main group for the past month, he's ready to get his 2017 campaign started against the Swans.
"The body is feeling great and I'm looking forward to blowing out a few cobwebs," he said.
"That's what the JLT Series is for, to get some match fitness and try out our new structures and strategies, and test out a few things.
"I'm sure it's going to take a bit of time, but I'm feeling really good now, and should be good to go for round one.”
The GIANTS take on the Swans on Friday night as part of a huge double-header at Blacktown International Sportspark. The AFLW team take on Melbourne from 5:05pm while the AFL team take on the Swans at 7:40pm.
GIANTS AFL and AFLW members (with game access) receive free entry (subject to capacity) or click here to purchase your tickets now.
The club’s AFL and AFLW teams will also join GIANTS Netball at the GIANTS’ annual Members and Fans Day at the WestConnex Centre in Sydney Olympic Park from 12pm-3pm on Sunday.
