The GIANTS will kick-off their 2026 NAB AFLW Season against the Eagles in an historic double-header at ENGIE Stadium on Sunday.
AFLW – Round One
GIANTS v Eagles
Sunday, August 16 at 4:45pm
ENGIE Stadium | Wangal Country
What It Means for the GIANTS
Playing at ENGIE Stadium for the first time in more than three seasons, the GIANTS will look to jump-start their 2026 campaign against the Eagles with a win on home turf.
In a bid to showcase AFLW to bigger audiences and in larger stadiums, the GIANTS host the Eagles in one of four double-header matches, following last weekend’s season opener between St Kilda and Carlton.
Notching two wins in their four match simulations across the last month, the GIANTS look a team renewed, owing to the host of fresh faces that have joined the program ahead of the GIANTS’ 11th AFLW season.
With their trademark fast ball movement and run-and-carry game bolstered through the important additions of Tilly Lucas-Rodd and Poppy Boltz, the GIANTS have their first opportunity to test their new line-up while playing for premiership points in the 12-week season.
Sunday offers fans a showcase of the improvements the GIANTS have focused on through their pre-season, with a particular eye on bettering stoppage work and their contested possession game.
Led again by Rebecca Beeson, the last inaugural GIANT, in her 11th season, the GIANTS will run out following the completion of the AFL round 23 match against the Eagles, who play with a wildcard spot still on the line.
The Opposition
Enjoying their best season to date in 2025, the Eagles have high hopes for the new year, under the stewardship of their coach, AFL Hall of Fame player Daisy Pearce.
Finishing eighth on the ladder, the Eagles played out their maiden finals campaign with a loss to the Blues, but garnered plenty of attention and fans for their end-to-end efficiency and aerial work.
With star midfielder and dual All Australian Ella Roberts a punter’s early pick for this year’s best and fairest, the GIANTS will have their work cut out for them in curbing her impact.
The Eagles boast height across their three lines, making their marking game one of the most dangerous weapons in their arsenal.
A young side, with plenty of confidence following last season's finals run, the Eagles shape as an important yardstick for the young GIANTS side and their development over the past six months.
Recent History
The GIANTS fumbled an opportunity to post three wins in a row last season, when they went down to the Eagles in round seven, after back-to-back points against the Bulldogs and Swans.
Making the flight over to Mineral Resources Park in Perth, the GIANTS kept in touch with the Eagles through the first half, before the home side kicked away, winning the inside 50 count 43-28.
Unable to mitigate the impact that Roberts had through the centre, the midfielder finished the game with 23 touches, eight tackles and a goal in the Eagles 42-point win over the GIANTS.
Izzy Huntington proved an important mover in the match, switching from the defensive arc to full forward duties, where she slotted two goals for the game and providing an important target in the attacking line.
Key Match Up: Rucking and Rolling
Named to make her AFLW debut on Sunday, GIANTS Academy product Yasmeen Janschek will have her work cut out for her against Eagles young gun Lauren Wakfer.
Wakfer finished third in the Eagles’ best and fairest count in 2025, a reward for her impact in aerial contests and her agility out of stoppages and was elevated to their leadership group ahead of the 2026 season.
Yanschek enters Sunday’s battle with a height advantage but will need to minimise the impact that Wakfer can have with her secondary efforts around contests.
Yanschek’s inclusion enables the GIANTS’ Irish duo of Eilish O’Dowd and Grace Kos more freedom to run out of stoppages and impact the team’s run and carry game.
GIANTS Player to Watch: Izzy Huntington
Playing in her 50th AFLW game, the 2017 number one draft pick has taken the long road to fifty, after rehabilitating herself through two ACL ruptures and moving to a new state and club in 2022.
Starring for the GIANTS with two goals in her last outing against the Eagles, Huntington will be looking to replicate her efforts and start her tenth season with a bang.
Touted for her contest marking ability and versatility, Huntington has featured at both ends of the ground and will be an important factor in mitigating the Eagles’ aerial route to goal.
Huntington’s leadership, resilience and heart have made both a fan and player favourite across her four seasons at the club, which will ensure she enjoys plenty of support when running out for the fiftieth time against the Eagles.
Team Selection:
The GIANTS will name their squad on Thursday at 6:20pm and final team on Friday at 5:00pm at gwsgiants.com.au.
Rehab Report:
Get a full injury update ahead Sunday’s match here.
