The GIANTS head south to Victoria Park this Saturday, looking to get their season back on track against the Magpies.
AFLW ROUND 2
GIANTS v Magpies
Saturday, August 23 at 1:05pm
Victoria Park, Abbotsford | Naarm
What It Means For The GIANTS
The GIANTS will be eager to prove their mettle against the Magpies in round two, as they hope to bounce back from a disappointing loss on home turf against the Bombers in round one.
A fresh-faced GIANTS team looked strong early before struggling to make the most of chances inside 50, allowing the Bombers to run out to a half-time lead, a deficit they were unable to overcome, made increasingly difficult after playmaker Alyce Parker was ruled out through injury.
The team will look to bounce back and restore some confidence with improved ball movement and decision making against a team also seeking a win.
With 11 games left in the season, there are plenty of chances to pick up points but scoring them early will help to build trust and confidence for a young GIANTS side.
The GIANTS will need to show their strength in a midfield without Parker, who has been a stalwart on the ball for the last seven seasons, only missing a limited period of play in 2023. It shapes as a chance for the side to show their depth and adaptability against the oldest side in the competition.
Having not met since 2022, the GIANTS will be looking at the Collingwood match as a chance to reset against a new opposition and secure their first win for 2025.
The Opposition
The Magpies suffered a loss to the Blues in the opening match of the 2025 season, going down by 24-points in the league’s season opener.
After scoring the opening two goals, the Magpies side were overrun, struggling to find an answer for the Blues’ midfield master Mimi Hill, who racked up 32 touches in the game and running riot between the arcs.
A tumultuous off-season for injuries has laid the Magpies bare across the park, losing Bri Davey, Sarah Rowe, Jordyn Allen and Mattea Breed before the season opener and their Irish recruit Kellyann Hogan in the match.
Having finished in last place in 2024, the Magpies unveiled prized No.1 draft pick Ash Centra in the match, who made an impact with her first kick in the AFLW going straight between the sticks, yet it didn’t prove enough of a turning point, with the Magpies struggling to stay in touch with their neighbours through the second half.
Magpies veteran Sabrina Fredrick still looms as dangerous as ever, with the strong bodied tall maintaining her impact as one of the Pies’ best, kicking one goal and dominating ruck contests in their attacking 50.
With both teams chasing a win, the match shapes as an important contest, against two vastly different teams, Collingwood preferring a physical, pressure-focused style of play, focusing on bursting out of contests, while the GIANTS look to better their run-and-carry, making use of speed and skill.
Key Match Up: Bringing Down Bonnici
Magpies’ midfielder Britt Bonnici was one of just a handful of inaugurals who played in the first-ever AFLW match and lined up in the same colours against Carlton last week.
Bonnici’s impact for the Magpies is as evident as ever and serves as their most important midfielder for her ability to clear the ball and her tackling pressure.
The veteran racked up 21 disposals and laid 15 tackles against the Blues, in a performance that showed no signs she intends to slow down in her tenth season .
She will be a key focus for the GIANTS as they look to dampen her impact and limit ball use, a task that is shaping to land in the lap of midfielder Kaitlyn Srhoj, who was one of the GIANTS best performers last week against the Bombers.
With Alyce Parker ruled out for the remainder of the home-and-away season, this match serves as an important opportunity for Srhoj to showcase her impact with ball in hand against a high-quality opposition.
Srhoj’s ability to deaden Bonnici’s effect and swing the momentum to the GIANTS around stoppages and clearances will also free up the versatile Zarlie Goldsworthy to spend more time forward of the ball.
GIANTS Player To Watch: Zarlie Goldsworthy
Consistently one of the GIANTS’ best performers, Goldsworthy has played a crucial role in the team’s focus on playing a more run-and-carry style of football since being drafted to the side in 2022.
Able to play both on the ball and ahead of it, Goldsworthy’s adaptable mindset and physicality was called upon last week following the injury to Parker, when she moved from her starting position at full-forward into the centre square.
Impactful around the ground, Goldsworthy will look to continue the grit and pressure of Parker’s game in her absence, while also hoping to have an impact on the scoreboard.
A Riverina product who plied her trade both north and south of the border before landing in the AFL Sydney competition with the Western Magic, Goldsworthy will be looking to re-capture the 2023 form that saw her named the NAB AFL Rising Star and take out the Gab Trainor Medal.
In The Mix
Showing off six debutants in round one, the GIANTS have more potential draftees to choose from as they look to replace Parker in the midfield, with former Crow Taylah Levy training well to put her in strong contention for a club debut.
Team Selection
The GIANTS will name their team to take on the Magpies at 6:20pm Thursday at gwsgiants.com.au.
Rehab Report
Get a full injury update ahead of Saturday’s match here.
Where To Watch
Saturday 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 and Kayo from 1:00pm.
