Zarlie Goldsworthy has added another feather to the cap of a phenomenal season, after being named in the 2025 AFL Players’ Association’s 22Under22 team.
Playing a starring role in the midfield for the majority of the GIANTS season, Goldsworthy was named in the team at half-forward, a nod to the versatility she has shown across the year and in her four seasons as a GIANT.
Goldsworthy enjoyed a career best season, including a career-high against crosstown rivals the Sydney Swans in round six, where she registered a new top performance at 31-disposals, eight marks and one goal.
The accolade comes for Goldsworthy amidst a swathe of recognition, with the 20-year-old having also been awarded her second Gabrielle Trainor Medal as the club’s best player for the season, as well as being named in the 42-player All-Australian squad.
With a season average of 21.2 disposals, 11.4 contested possessions, 3.4 clearances, 6.2 tackles, and 3.5 score involvements a game, as well as four goals for the year, all out of the midfield, Goldsworthy showed her continued development as a young leader and star for the club.
A prodigious athlete growing up and representing Australia in football as a Junior Matilda before setting her sights on the AFLW, Goldsworthy was taken by the GIANTS with pick 20 in the 2022 NAB AFLW Draft and has been a mainstay of the GIANTS line-up since.
AFLW head coach Cam Bernasconi congratulated Goldsworthy on her latest achievement.
“Zarlie has been a stand-out for us through the year and we’re so glad to see her getting the recognition she so deserves across the league,” Bernasconi said.
“After training the whole pre-season in the forward line, she was thrown into the midfield following Alyce’s [Parker] injury and picked up the mantle without pause or complaint and shone for us on the ball throughout the season.
“She’s been a young star of the competition for years now but somehow continues to elevate her game year on year.
“We’re immensely grateful to have her as an ambassador for our club and as a key member of our line-up each week and can’t wait to see where she takes her game to in 2026.”
