The GIANTS’ 2025 AFLW season will be celebrated in style on Monday night at the Gabrielle Trainor Medal held at Crown Sydney.
As we prepare to crown the GIANTS’ AFLW club champion, GIANTS Media has taken a look at some of the contenders for this year’s honour following a host of strong performances across the 2025 AFLW season.
How does the count work?
After every game, Head Coach Cam Bernasconi - with input from his assistant coaches – awards votes to as many players as he sees fit on a scale of 1-6, with a maximum of 6 votes available per player per round.
The votes from across the season are then tallied up, with the player with the most votes crowned the Gabrielle Trainor Medallist.
Previous Winners:
2024 – Bec Beeson
2023 – Zarlie Goldsworthy
2022 (S7) – Alyce Parker
2022 - Alyce Parker
2021 – Alyce Parker
2020 – Alyce Parker
2019 – Rebecca Beeson
2018 – Alicia Eva
2017 – Jessica Dal Pos
2025 Gabrielle Trainor Medal Contenders:
Rebecca Beeson
Already a two-time winner and the reigning club champion after taking out last year’s Gabrielle Trainor Medal, the skipper is looking to further cement herself as a club great as she enters Monday’s count looking to add a third Gabrielle Trainor Medal to her collection.
One of just two multiple-time winners of the Gabrielle Trainor Medal alongside four-time winner Alyce Parker, Beeson has given herself every chance of claiming back-to-back club champion awards after another starring season in 2025.
The club’s leading disposal getter at an average of 21.5 per game to go along with 5.8 tackles and 3.9 clearances per game, Beeson worked tirelessly as always through the middle of the ground and continued to lead from the front in her second season as captain.
Following another remarkably consistent season, in which she only had less than 19 disposals in one game, Beeson will be sure to feature prominently once again on Monday night.
Zarlie Goldsworthy
Crowned the 2023 club champion at the record-breaking age of 18, Goldsworthy has put herself firmly in the mix for her second Gabrielle Trainor Medal after another starring season.
Also finishing runner-up last season, Goldsworthy had another brilliant campaign in 2025 where she excelled transitioning from a mid-forward to a full-time midfielder.
One of the competition’s brightest young stars – highlighted by her 2023 AFLW Rising Star Award – Goldsworthy finished the 2025 season second at the club in disposals at an average of 21.2 per game to go along with 6.2 tackles, and 3.4 clearances to play a vital role in the GIANTS’ midfield.
Already etched in the history books following her 2023 win, could Goldsworthy add a second Gabrielle Trainor Medal to her name despite still being just 20 years old?
Tarni Evans
One of the league’s most exciting young players, and one of its most versatile, Evans is looking to claim her first Gabrielle Trainor Medal on Monday night after a brilliant season in attack in 2025.
Previously one of the league’s best young defenders before transitioning forward in the back half of last season, Evans made a more permanent move to the forward line in 2025 where her talents were on full display as she starred as the club’s leading goalkicker and its focal point in attack.
Kicking multiple goals in four games and at least one in seven games, Evans athleticism, skill, and pure talent often single handedly kept the GIANTS in games with her brilliance ahead of the footy.
Following a career-best season, the 23-year-old has given herself every chance to vote heavily on Monday night and claim a maiden club champion award.
Eilish O’Dowd
Now one of the club’s most important players, O’Dowd burst onto the scene in her debut season last year and carried that over to her second season with another impressive campaign in 2025.
Blessed with speed and a desire to take the game on, the former Gaelic star was once again a huge weapon for the GIANTS this season and will be aiming for another strong showing on Monday night after last year’s equal-fourth finish.
O’Dowd continued to be one of the league’s most impactful line breakers across the 2025 season, with her run and carry pivotal to igniting the GIANTS’ orange tsunami.
Emphasising her strong season, O’Dowd averaged 15.8 disposals per game this season to finish fifth across the entire league for rucks – while also finishing first across all rucks for running bounces.
Katherine Smith
A rock in defence for the GIANTS again this season, Smith arguably eclipsed last year’s career-best season with an even better campaign in 2025.
Often matching up on the opposition’s deepest or best medium-sized forward, Smith’s ability to nullify some of the league’s stars was crucial to Cam Bernasconi’s side in 2025.
At times outsized by taller opponents, Smith’s toughness, and her ability to defend one on one consistently saw her finish amongst her side’s best each week throughout the season.
After finishing third last season, the leader has given herself every chance of another podium finish on Monday night following a fantastic season down back.
Kaitlyn Srhoj
One of the league’s best young midfielders – highlighted by her two AFLW Rising Star nominations across her first two seasons – Srhoj took another huge step forward on her brilliant debut season from last year to become one of the side’s most important players in 2025.
Still just 20 years old and in her second season, Srhoj played as a permanent inside midfielder in 2025 where her toughness, courage, and ability to win the footy in tight showed she’s got all the makings to be a future star of the competition.
Finishing the season as the club’s third leading disposal getter at an average of 18.3 per game, Srhoj also averaged 4.8 tackles and 2.1 clearances across a brilliant 2025 campaign.
Despite still being one of the side’s youngest players, Srhoj will enter Monday night’s count as a smokey for the Gabrielle Trainor Medal following an outstanding season in the middle.
Cambridge McCormick
One of the competition’s most improved players and one of its most lethal and dynamic defenders, McCormick had a clean run with injuries this year and from that was able to show her talents across a career-best season.
A rebounding half-back who this year showed she’s also more than capable of playing as a key defender, McCormick excelled in 2025 as both a shutdown defender on some of the league’s best key forwards, as well as her traditional role, dashing out of the defensive line.
Listed by the AFLW as a key defender in 2025, McCormick finished first across the entire competition for her position in both disposals (16.6) and tackles (4.1) per game.
Emphasising her growth, McCormick’s breakout campaign also saw her finish inside the top five at the GIANTS for disposals, marks, tackles, inside 50s, contested possessions, intercept possessions, metres gained, rebound 50s, and spoils.
Emily Pease
Similar to her sidekick down back in Cambridge, Pease also put together a career-best 2025 season and is sure to poll strongly on Monday night.
A rock in defence all season, Pease’ composure, ball use, and ability to lock down both small and medium forwards has seen her thrive down back in 2025.
Pease finished her career-best season sitting fourth at the club in disposals (17.7 per game), while also finishing in the top five in kicks, rebound 50s, effective kicks, tackles, intercept possessions, and spoils.
One of her side’s most reliable players, Pease was consistently among the side’s best players throughout the season and has given herself every chance of a career-high vote count in this year’s Gabrielle Trainor Medal.
To keep up to date with all the results from the 2025 Gabrielle Trainor Medal on Monday night, follow @GWSGIANTSAFLW on Instagram.
