The GIANTS host the Dockers in their home Pride Round fixture and invite all fans and first-time attendees to show their colours on the Hill. 

AFLW ROUND 10
 
GIANTS v Dockers
Saturday, October 18 at 3:05pm
Henson Park, Sydney | Gadigal & Wangal

Pride Round

Played across two rounds for the first time in 2025, Pride Round is the AFLW’s annual celebration of the LGBTQI+ community in the game.

Both on the field and off it, Pride Round puts a spotlight on the rainbow community and the significant culture of inclusion and diversity that has been built across the league.  

The AFL aspires to ensure everyone feels welcome and safe to be their authentic selves whilst participating, watching and enjoying our great game and the GIANTS are proud to deliver this experience at all our AFLW matches.

What It Means For The GIANTS

A disappointing final quarter in Geelong saw a small margin blow out late and the GIANTS return to Sydney disappointed after dropping a winnable game.  

There were plenty of positive moments and some astonishing individual performances, with Zarlie Goldsworthy continuing to deliver on-ball, registering 27 touches, seven clearances and a goal in a strong midfield showing, while Tarni Evans showcased why she’s attracted so much attention from opposition defence with three goals.  

While the team improved on their inside 50 efficiency, they were still unable to make the most of being the better performer in getting the ball into the attacking arc, registering five more inside 50s than the Cats. 

It’s one of the final pieces of the puzzle for the GIANTS, who have improved across the ground in team stats, winning the clearance contest around the ground on the day and looking more competitive in possession.  

The GIANTS will be looking to continue the strong pressure game they’ve produced across the season while also being more deliberate in decision making under pressure themselves. 

The Opposition  

Fremantle travel east with their eyes still firmly on finals, just four points out of the eight but with a poor percentage their biggest hurdle to making the cut.  

It’s a tight ladder with just three matches to play and the Dockers will be aiming to put as many points on the board as they can, while hoping to tighten up their defensive efforts, a point of difficulty through their season so far. The Dockers sit just one spot above the GIANTS for percentage this year after leaking goals against the Kangaroos and Lions early in the season. 

The Dockers come into the Pride Round clash confident after an impressive win over the third placed (and undermanned) Demons, holding on for a five-point victory to keep their finals hopes alive.  

Vulnerable to aerial marking in their defensive 50, the Dockers will need to quash the aerial threats of both Tarni Evans and Georgia Garnett.  

They will, however, be buoyed by the consistent performances of veteran Kiara Bowers and reigning best and fairest winner Mim Strom.  

Key Match Up: Barnstorming Strom

All-Australian ruck woman in 2024, Mim Strom has become critical to Fremantle’s re-development and has helped change their game style to emerge as one of the game’s best clearance sides.  

Currently leading the AFLW for contested possessions, Fremantle’s work around stoppage is led by the 182cm Strom who is touted not only for her aerial dominance but her athleticism and availability as an additional midfielder.  

She’s an important match-up for the GIANTS dual ruck options in Eilish O’Dowd - who will look to stop Strom being a second option after hit-outs - and Fleur Davies who will try to beat her in the air.  

Averaging 19.1 hitouts a game, Strom has been below her best in contest while focusing on a more holistic game, increasing both her disposal and clearances averages in 2025. 

With the GIANTS’ stoppage work being one of their most improved assets in recent weeks, the round-the-ground match-up shapes as an important battle on Saturday.  

GIANTS Player To Watch: Cambridge McCormick

In the most damaging form of her career and settled into a full-time role and halfback through the 2025 season, McCormick could be a critical asset against the Dockers.  

Fremantle currently hold the unwanted mantle of leading the competition for turnovers, a stat the GIANTS will be hoping to exploit through their speed and live ball play, two traits McCormick leads the way in.   

Boasting an exceptional ability to read play, McCormick’s intercepting and aerial contest game are made more damaging by her rebounding speed, which head coach Cam Bernasconi has been deploying as a weapon to deliver the ball inside 50.  

Originally from Queensland, McCormick landed at the GIANTS as a mature-age draftee via the mid-north coast of NSW and AFL Canberra.  

Playing a role in the leadership group for the first time this season, McCormick’s development has hit new heights in 2025. 

With an increase in her disposal efficiency, McCormick can become one of the most impactful defenders in the competition and has the chance to prove just how impactful she can be in this weekend’s meeting with the Dockers.  

In The Mix  

Alicia Eva was ruled out late to travel to Geelong but looms as a potential inclusion to face the Dockers.

Defender Eleanor Brown is also looking to break back into the side, after performing strongly in AFLW scrimmage at Arden Street last Saturday.

Team Selection

The GIANTS will name their final team to take on the Dockers 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 7Mate and 7plus from 3:00pm, as well as nationally on Fox Sports 3, Kayo and BINGE from 3:00pm.

Fremantle has booted three of the last four goals to surge past a brave GIANTS side and keep its finals hopes flickering with a seven-point triumph at Henson Park.

The Dockers were unable to make the most of their strength at stoppage before locking the ball forward and overpowering the GIANTS in the final term for a 6.11 (47) to 6.4 (40) victory on Saturday afternoon.

The come-from-behind win keeps Fremantle within touch of the top eight ahead of pivotal games against Richmond and old foe Adelaide on the run home. 

An upset was on the cards for much of the contest as the GIANTS moved the ball at speed and a surprise looked more likely when Tarni Evans booted her second of the game after the three-quarter time siren.

But with their finals hopes on the line, the Dockers came out firing and forced an early stoppage in their forward 50 before Gabrielle Biedenweg-Webster won a hotly contested ground ball and booted a team-lifting major from the top of the goalsquare.

When Tunisha Kikoak was awarded a down-the-ground free kick and slotted a goal from a tricky angle shortly after, the Dockers suddenly had all the momentum in what had been a tense tussle for three terms.

A mark near goal to Georgia Garnett and a costly 50m penalty against Philipa Seth brought the GIANTS back within striking distance before the Dockers kept them at arm's length through the dying stages. 

The Dockers were helped by GIANTS young gun Sara Howley returning the favour and giving away a sloppy 50m penalty that set up a crucial late goal to Sarah Verrier.

Dockers ruck Mim Strom helped set the tone with a powerful performance around the stoppages on the way to gathering 23 disposals and six clearances, while also collecting 28 hitouts.

Gabby Newton was outstanding and gathered 28 disposals and six clearances with her clean hands on show, while Aisling McCarthy was also influential with 19 touches. 

Kiara Bowers was not quite able to have her usual influence away from the contest but was important for the Dockers when the game was on the line in the final term and finished with 10 clearances among 23 disposals. 

The GIANTS set out to put the Dockers under pressure with their slick handball overcoming their relative weakness at stoppage.

The tireless Kaitlyn Srhoj (15 disposals) ran herself into the ground to continue her rich vein of form while keeping a watchful eye on Dockers danger Bowers.

The emerging GIANTS midfielder was often a critical link in the chain as the hosts were comfortable using a string of handballs to move the ball out of defence and through the centre of field.

Emily Pease gathered a game-high 29 disposals and Zarlie Goldsworthy was full of class with 17 touches and a goal before the Dockers wore down the hosts in the final term.

GIANTS Defender Makes Breakthrough Goal Worth The Wait

Cambridge McCormick has rarely been within range of goal during her 33 games but made the most of half an opportunity against the Dockers. The GIANTS key defender was camped in the centre square to protect a counterattack but when the ball ended up in her hands McCormick unleashed a thumping kick that bounced just inside the goal line then through for a first AFLW major. After the GIANTS players mobbed their teammate among wild celebrations, the 26-year-old faced a lengthy review to check whether Indi Strom had touched the ball in flight before her breakthrough goal was given the all clear.

Up Next

Fremantle will be out to continue its late surge when it hosts Richmond at Fremantle Oval on Saturday at 2.05pm AWST. The GIANTS face Carlton as they look to rebound from four consecutive defeats on Sunday from 3.05pm AEDT at Ikon Park.

GIANTS.                2.1     3.3      5.4       6.4 (40)
FREMANTLE          1.4     1.7     3.10     6.11 (47)

GOALS

GIANTS: Evans 2, McCormick, Goldsworthy, Garnett, Brazendale
Fremantle: Kikoak 2, Verrier, Low, Brisbane, Biedenweg-Webster 

BEST 

GIANTS: Pease, Goldsworthy, Beeson, Srhoj, McCormick
Fremantle: Newton, McCarthy, M.Strom, Miller, Bowers, Low, O'Driscoll

Crowd: 1,105 at Henson Park