Five GIANTS have been selected in the 2018 Virgin Australia AFL Women’s All Australian squad of 40. 

Vice-captain Alicia Eva, Courtney Gum, Phoebe McWilliams, Erin McKinnon and Pepa Randall have been rewarded for their stellar performances throughout the GIANTS’ 2018 campaign.

It’s the second time that both Eva and McKinnon have made the 40-player list, with the duo being nominated in 2017, while Gum, McWilliams and Randall all receive nominations for the first time.

Eva averaged 17.9 disposals per game in 2018, the fourth most in the competition, and 7.4 tackles per game, also ranking her fourth in the competition. 

The 26-year-old, who moved from Collingwood to the GIANTS in the 2017 AFLW Trade period, broke the GIANTS’ record for most disposals in a game with 23 touches in the club’s round three win over her former club before fellow All Australian nominee Gum equalled it in round six.

Gum showed age is no barrier, with the 36-year-old midfielder proving to be one of the GIANTS’ most valuable acquisitions in the 2017 NAB AFLW Draft.

Gum averaged 14.7 disposals in 2018 and kicked five goals in her seven games. She also set the record for most contested possessions, with 20 in the round six win over the Bulldogs at UNSW Canberra Oval.

Ruck Erin McKinnon went from strength to strength in 2018, backing up her 2017 NAB AFLW Rising Star nomination and Virigin Australia AFLW All Australian nomination by leading the competition for hit-outs with 173 for the year at an average of 24.7 per game.

Phoebe McWilliams was dominant up forward in 2018, finishing equal-seventh in the league for goals with seven.

McWilliams’ tackling pressure and strong marking was a highlight as she claimed her second successive GIANTS leading goalkicker award. 

Pepa Randall proved in 2018 that she’s more than just a burrito-eating cult hero. The dashing defender took on opponents of all sizes and was rarely beaten, with her round four effort in shutting down dangerous Adelaide forward Erin Phillips being one of the season’s best performances.

The five GIANTS will find out if they’ve made the final 21-player team at the W Awards in Melbourne on Tuesday, March 27.

Previous GIANTS Virgin Australia AFLW All Australians:

Jessica Dal Pos (2017)

Previous GIANTS Virgin Australia AFLW All Australian Nominees:

Renee Tomkins (2017)

Emma Swanson (2017)

Erin McKinnon (2017)