The GIANTS will look to finish off season 10 with a high when they clash with the Power at Henson Park in their final game for 2025.
AFLW ROUND 12
GIANTS v Power
Saturday, November 1 at 1:05pm
Henson Park, Sydney | Gadigal & Wangal
What it Means for the GIANTS
A lightning delay proved the refresh the GIANTS needed after giving early, easy points to the Blues in round 11.
Disappointed with their first half, the GIANTS returned to Ikon Park after a half-hour break in play as a different team, delivering the style of football that has challenged the league’s best teams to deliver a 33-point fightback post-delay.
They’ll be looking to retain that momentum through the final week of training and into Saturday’s clash with the Power in the hope that lightning strikes twice and the GIANTS can finish their tenth season with a win.
With the round 12 clash closing out a historic season for the GIANTS, the club’s tenth in the league as an inaugural team, there’s plenty of motivation for success.
A win would be the GIANTS’ best season since the competition expanded in 2022, while also ensuring that retiring GIANT Aliesha Newman finishes her career on a high, following the announcement of her retirement from the game on Tuesday.
The Opposition
A ‘Showdown’ win against their cross-town opponents the Crows in round 11 has given the Power a glimmer of hope for finals and a win against the GIANTS would leave them hoping other results fall in their favour to nab the last spot in the eight.
Port enjoyed a rapid rise in 2024, playing finals for the first time after joining the competition as part of the 18-team expansion in 2022.
While they’ve maintained plenty of the strength around and ahead of the ball that made last year’s efforts so fruitful, it’s in defence where the Power have struggled to hold form in 2025, conceding an average of 52.5 points per game, with an average loss margin of 26.2.
Up the other end of the park, it’s a different story.
Boasting a damaging forward line and bolstered by the ruck work of Matilda Scholz – the AFLW Rising Star in 2024, the Power are the competition’s fourth highest scoring team.
It’s something the GIANTS will need to limit in order to claim the four points and finish the year the way they hope to.
With the likes of Shineah Goody and Abbey Dowrick on the ball, round 12 shapes as an exciting contest across the park.
Key Match Up: Taming Tahau
Breaking the AFLW record for the most goals scored through the home-and-away season with a game in hand, Indy Tahau is the game’s most damaging forward.
Joining the Power as a defender in 2022, after two seasons with the Lions, a switch into attack, where she could repurpose her aerial marking and rebounding speed has proved a pivotal one for Port Adelaide, who switched ends in 2024 upon return from rupturing her ACL.
Keeping Tahau quiet will be the responsibility of GIANTS’ key defender Katherine Smith, who will look to add to her collections of scalps for the year.
It likely leaves Emily Pease with the unenviable task of lining up against the club’s three-time leading goalkicker Gemma Houghton, a dual All-Australian with 19-goals herself in 2025.
GIANTS Player to Watch: Aliesha Newman
One of the best beloved players around the club for her commitment to culture and community, Aliesha Newman announced that this Saturday’s match would be her last at AFLW level.
A prolific small forward, with the ability to break through lines with her speed, Newman is a previous AFLW Goal of the Year winner, who threatens the same ability to leave opponents in her wake even now.
Newman has featured in a different role for the GIANTS this season, coming off the bench in her first two matches for the side in rounds eight and nine, before featuring more prominently against the Blues last week.
With her relentless pursuit and pace, Newman is as dangerous as she was when she was recruited by the Demons ahead of the inaugural AFLW season.
The GIANTS will be looking to send Newman off on a high, with a win at Henson Park for her final game.
In The Mix
Zarlie Goldsworthy will need to complete training on Thursday after tweaking her ankle in last Sunday’s match-up with the Blues.
Taylah Levy was managed last week after ongoing knee soreness kept her from contesting a place in Cam Bernasconi’s side. She is a chance to return this week after returning to training with the team.
With the last AFLW scrimmage for the season held in Adelaide last week, both Eleanor Brown and Claire Ransom are also chances to enter the team after strong outings at Alberton Oval.
Team Selection
The GIANTS will name their team to take on the Power at 6:20pm on Thursday at gwsgiants.com.au.
Rehab Report
Get a full injury update ahead of Sunday'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 1pm, as well as nationally on Fox Sports 3, Kayo and BINGE from 1pm.
