A Canberran and five New South Wales products headline the GIANTS’ haul in Tuesday’s 2019 NAB AFL Women’s Draft. 

18-year-old Maggie Gorham becomes the second Belconnen player to be selected with the GIANTS’ first pick of the AFLW draft, following in the footsteps of Jodie Hicks in 2017.

Gorham is an exciting forward who claimed this year’s Bainrot Medal as AFL Canberra’s Best and Fairest and was selected by the GIANTS with pick four. 

Fellow teenager Georgia Garnett (East Coast Eagles), Emily Goodsir (East Coast Eagles) and Lisa Steane (Macquarie University) become first-time GIANTS, having played for AFL Sydney’s two top-performing clubs in 2019.

Steane was named best-on-ground in Macquarie University’s Grand Final win over Garnett and Goodsir’s East Coast last month.

Talented multisport athlete Sarah Halvorsen, who was drafted with the GIANTS’ third pick (61st overall), comes to the GIANTS from Black Diamond League premiers Newcastle City, while UNSW-ES Bulldogs trio Lisa Whiteley, Tait Mackrill and Rebecca Privitelli have been re-drafted.

Both Whiteley and Mackrill debuted during the GIANTS’ 2019 AFLW season while Privitelli – who played one game for the GIANTS in 2018 – returns after stepping away from top-level women’s football in 2019.

Experienced midfielder Annaylse Lister also joins the club after an impressive season for VFLW side Darebin, not missing a single game in 2019.

Seven of the GIANTS’ selections played in the GIANTS VFL Women’s program that ran for the first time this winter.

AFLW Head Coach Alan McConnell said the VFLW program has given local players a better chance to prepare for the step up to the AFLW competition.

“We’re excited that we’re able to pick more and more local products which has always been our plan,” McConnell said.

“The VFLW program has been important for us in finding and developing players from NSW and the ACT.

“The program has given us a vehicle to enhance the preparation of local players for an opportunity to play in the AFLW.

“That’s exemplified by the number of local players we’ve picked this year compared to previous years.”

The nine selections finalise the GIANTS’ 2020 AFL Women’s list ahead of the competition’s fourth season.

Pick 4 - Maggie Gorham

Recruited From: Belconnen Magpies (ACT)
Position: Forward 

Gorham is an outstanding prospect who claimed the Bainrot Medal in 2019 as AFL Canberrra’s Best and Fairest. Gorham kicked 29 goals in 17 games for the Belconnen Magpies playing primarily as a forward. Gorham finished equal-fifth in the 2018 Bainrot Medal count in a year that saw her play in the 2018 AFL NSW/ACT team at the Under-18s Championships alongside Alyce Parker and be named in the 2018 NAB AFL Women’s Academy. Quick on her feet and equipped with a great set of hands, Gorham boasts a deadly set shot and has lightening quick hands.

McConnell on Gorham: “A forward with the ability to eventually play through the midfield, Maggie has great goal sense and is a good mark. She fits the needs of our club as we required a goalkicker of her ilk.” 

Pick 23 - Lisa Steane

Recruited From: Macquarie University (NSW)
Position: Midfielder

A dashing outside midfielder with a booming yet accurate kick, Steane is a tough midfielder who, alongside GIANTS AFLW Captain Amanda Farrugia, led Macquarie University to the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division Premiership in 2019. Named best-on-ground in the Warriors’ Grand Final win, Steane was been part of the GIANTS’ VFLW program in 2019. Originally from Nelson Bay, Steane moved to Sydney two years ago to pursue her AFLW dream. 

McConnell on Steane: “An outside midfielder or half-back with good speed and endurance, Steane is a local Sydney product who has worked really hard over the last two to three years to get herself the opportunity to be drafted onto our list.”

Pick 29 - Annalyse Lister

Recruited From: Darrebin (VIC)
Position: Midfielder

An experienced campaigner, Lister is a versatile player having demonstrated great ability as an inside and outside midfielder and also as a half-back flanker. A former hockey player, Lister was part of Darebin’s 2017 VFLW Premiership team. A consistent ball getter, who is especially clean by hand, Lister isn’t afraid of the contest, often recording double figures in the tackle column.

McConnell on Lister: “Lister is an experienced player who can play inside-mid, wing and half-back. She is a quick and tough competitor who comes from a hockey background.”

Pick 61 - Sarah Halvorsen

Recruited From: Newcastle City (NSW)
Position: Forward/ Defender

A key-position player, Halvorsen played both back and forward in 2019 as the Newcastle City Blues claimed the Black Diamond League Premiership. Part of the GIANTS’ VFLW program, Halvorsen is an accurate kick, blessed with good speed for her height and is a tough competitor. The 23-year-old multi-sport athlete scored a hattrick in a soccer grand final in the Northern NSW Premier League and won a silver medal as member of the Australian Rugby 7s squad for the 2015 Pacific Games. 

McConnell on Halvorsen: “Coming out of the Black Diamond League, Sarah has a family history with the game with her father playing in the WAFL. She is very athletic medium-tall who can play either forward or back.” 

Pick 76 - Emily Goodsir

Recruited From: East Coast Eagles (NSW)
Position: Midfielder

A hard-bodied midfielder, Goodsir is an elite runner who also loves getting the inside ball. Equally deadly on the outside due to her explosive speed, Goodsir is an accurate kick. Goodsir was outstanding during 2019, finishing runner up in the Mostyn Medal and playing an outstanding game in the Eagles’ Grand Final loss to Macquarie University. Goodsir was part of the GIANTS’ VFLW program in 2019. 

McConnell on Goodsir: “Emily has a big aerobic capacity and is tough and strong in her attack on the ball and the opposition. She will add to the depth of our midfield.”

Pick 90 - Georgia Garnett
Recruited From: East Coast Eagles (NSW)
Position: Forward/Defender

An outstanding junior from Castle Hill in Western Sydney, Garnett has played at the last three NAB AFLW Under-18 Championships for NSW/ACT. While injury disrupted her 2019 tournament, Garnett was named in the 2019 AFLW Academy Squad. Able to play as both a forward and a defender, Garnett played a key role in the East Coast Eagles’ push to the AFL Sydney Grand Final. The 18-year-old recently took part in the 2019 NAB AFLW Draft combine, recording impressive results in the YoYo test (Second with 16.8) and in 20 metre sprint (3.461 seconds). 

McConnell on Garnett: “A local talent with a huge aerobic capacity, Garnett has improved significantly over the past 12 months through her exposure to the VFLW program. We think she will develop into a key position player for us.”

Pick 95 - Tait Mackrill

Recruited From:UNSW-ES Bulldogs & GIANTS AFLW
Position: Forward/ Midfielder

A familiar face for GIANTS fans Mackrill has been drafted by the GIANTS for a third time. After spending 2018 and 2019 on the GIANTS rookie list, Mackrill will now be part of the senior list for the first time. The 20-year-old, who was initially drafted from Adelaide University, made her AFLW debut in round three last year. The forward, who can also play in the midfield, showed her fantastic skills in three games for the GIANTS and kicked a goal in the GIANTS’ win over Collingwood in round four.

McConnell on Mackrill: “This is the third time that we have listed her. We’ve worked on her deficiencies that we’ve jointly identified, and she had an excellent VFLW series which has earned her a place back on our list.” 

Pick 97 - Rebecca Privitelli

Recruited From: UNSW-ES Bulldogs (NSW)
Position: Forward

Privitelli returns to the GIANTS after opting to sit out the 2019 AFL Women’s season. The forward played one game for the GIANTS in 2018 after playing five games for Carlton in the 2017 season. The 24-year-old is a high marking and strait shooting forward who finished third in the Mostyn Medal while captaining the UNSW-ES Bulldogs in the Sydney Premier Division. Privitelli kicked 30 goals for the Bulldogs in 2019, backing up her haul of 29 during their premiership year in 2018. Her experience was on show during the GIANTS’ VFLW games in 2019 as she often hit the scoreboard and took a number of outstanding contested marks.

McConnell on Privitelli: “Privitelli was on Carlton’s list and then our list and has worked really hard to get another opportunity; she’s a strong marking forward.”

Pick 99 - Lisa Whiteley

Recruited From: UNSW-ES Bulldogs & GIANTS AFLW
Position: Defender

Another GIANT who benefited from the GIANTS’ VFLW program, the 171cm defender is back for a second season at the GIANTS. A tough defender who hails from South Adelaide in the SANFLW, Whiteley can play tall or small and boasts excellent disposal by foot. The 26-year-old debuted for the GIANTS in round six, 2019 and performed well in the GIANTS’ win over Geelong in Canberra as they ended their season on a high. 

McConnell on Whiteley: “Lisa has worked really hard since she’s been at our club. She has basically transformed her body over that time and has worked really hard to become a better player, which we believe she’s done. Lisa’s worked hard to earn her spot back on our list.”