Blue skies await the GIANTS when they travel to face the winless Gold Coast Suns this Saturday.
AFLW ROUND 4
GIANTS v Suns
Saturday, September 6 at 1:05pm
People First Stadium, Gold Coast | Yugambeh
What It Means For The GIANTS
Hunting for their first win of the 2025 season, the GIANTS showed plenty of nerve against Kuwarna at Henson Park last week but were unable to claw back the distance created in a wind-affected first quarter.
It was an important showing of form and continuation of the strong performance that almost got the team over the line against the Magpies in round two, but three straight losses has left Cam Bernasconi’s squad hungrier than ever.
The GIANTS meet the also winless Suns, who currently sit below them on the table and will be equally as ravenous for the four points.
With similar ladder placings over the years, both sides will enter the contest with a belief they can win and a faith in their young draftees.
Both the Suns and GIANTS received top five picks last year and the young guns of each side have showcased their skills early in the season, with number four pick Sara Howley one of the GIANTS best performers against Kuwarna last week.
The GIANTS enter the clash with the Suns primed and eager to claim their first four points of 2025.
The Opposition
The Suns have found themselves on the bottom of the ladder after a winless start to the season, through which they’ve endured some heavy defeats.
Losing by an average margin of 55-points through their first three matches, the team have struggled to match with their opposition, particularly around stoppages but boast plenty of weapons with talls across the park and a strong engine room.
There are plenty of high points for the young team, however, including a round three Rising Star nomination for their top draft pick from 2024, Havanna Harris.
With a new coach and captains in 2025, the Suns are still finding their best football, which saw them play finals for the second time in 2023.
New head coach, former Sydney Swans premiership player Rhyce Shaw and leaders’ Niamh McLaughlin and Lucy Single have discussed a return to basics, ensuring the Suns’ skills are equal with the competition’s best, before focusing on their running fitness, with final quarters letting them down in 2024.
Boasting an incredibly strong midfield, with the likes of Charlie Rowbottom and Lucy Single as contest beasts that deliver impressive clearance numbers, the Suns will focus on winning the ball around stoppages before counting on their height and aerial prowess at both ends of the park.
Key Match Up: Catching A Unicorn
Dubbed a ‘unicorn’ for her ability to be used anywhere on the park, Havanna Harris was one of the most highly touted picks coming into the 2024 NAB AFLW Draft.
Picking up the Rising Star nomination for a 17 touch, five tackle and one goal performance in the Suns round three loss to Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide), Harris has proved important early in the season.
Harris’ ability to swing between full and half-forward, as well as providing an additional set of hands through the corridor shapes her as a difficult but important prospect for different matchups across the GIANTS list.
Cambridge McCormick looks a likely proposition in the half-back role, with McCormick’s speed in transition and weapon-like left foot providing a key outlet from the defensive 50 through the GIANTS first few matches of the year.
She’ll be looking to challenge Harris one-on-one and use her rebounding pressure to minimise Harris’ impact in the Suns attacking line.
GIANTS Player To Watch: Sara Howley
Putting in her best performance to date for the GIANTS against Kuwarna, Howley showcased why she was such a hot prospect ahead of the 2024 Draft in the round three loss.
With an immense footy IQ developed, coming up through Victoria’s youth football programs and Vic Country teams, Howley’s maturity and reading of the game was on full show last week.
Picking up 17 disposals with an efficiency over 90%, Howley’s anticipation and positioning were important factors in the GIANTS’ transition game.
The 19-year-old displayed why she is such a critical part of what Cam Bernasconi is looking to build with the GIANTS AFLW team and the impact of accessing national talent can be, through her coachability and skill level.
The GIANTS will be hoping Howley can build on her stats with more time on the ball and hit targets inside 50, as the GIANTS look to punish the Suns on turnover and through the corridor.
In The Mix
Viv Saad is available for selection against her old side, almost a year to the day that a ruptured Achilles ruled her out of the 2024 season. Saad played out AFLW scrimmage last week and would add height and experience to Bernasconi’s side.
Grace Kos and Aliesha Newman are also both tests to play after being sidelined with minor injuries for round three.
Team Selection
The GIANTS will name their team to take on the Suns at 6:20pm on Thursday at gwsgiants.com.au.
Rehab Report
Get a full injury update ahead of Saturday’s match here.
Where To Watch
Saturday’s clash will be shown live and free in NSW and the ACT on Channel 7 and 7plus from 1:00pm, as well as nationally on Fox Sports 3, Kayo and BINGE from 1:00pm.
