Tilly Lucas-Rodd and Poppy Boltz headline a fresh-faced GIANTS squad announced ahead of this Sunday’s double-header at ENGIE Stadium.
The high-profile recruits have been adored additions to the AFLW program team since joining through the 2025 trade period.
Boltz bolsters the GIANTS backline, with the former premiership-winning Lion adding three seasons of experience and plenty of height to the defensive 50, with Boltz possessing the ability to act as a key defender and minimise the Eagles’ aerial route inside the arc.
Further up the ground, Lucas-Rodd's leadership and versatility will be on equal display in their first outing as a GIANT.
Shifting to defence in 2024, where they enjoyed an All-Australian season for the Hawks, Lucas-Rodd returns to an attacking role for the GIANTS in round one, where they provide an option in transition play, given an ability to push high into the midfield.
Executive General Manager of AFLW and Football Operations Alison Zell noted the impact that both players have had since joining the program last year.
“Tilly has been an incredible addition to our program, as a leader on and off the field, and brings a wealth of experience across multiple AFL programs,” Zell said.
“They've made an immediate impact, with elevation to our leadership group, ahead of playing their first game.
“Likewise, Poppy has fitted seamlessly into the club taking a couple of the draftees under her wing and has been a standard bearer in work ethic through the pre-season.
“We’re excited about what this duo brings to the side and look forward to seeing them in orange and charcoal for the first time on Sunday.”
Lucas-Rodd and Boltz’ inclusion is supplemented by the AFLW debut of ruck Yasmeen Janschek, who was announced to play her first game as a GIANT after being drafted at the end of the 2025 season earlier on Thursday.
Star midfielder Alyce Parker and young defender Caitlin Fletcher will also feature in the season opener after missing almost the entire 2025 season with injuries suffered in round one.
Draftees Sophia Gaukrodger and Kiera Yerbury also stand poised to play their first AFLW games if named in the final team on Friday afternoon.
After a huge pre-season and the addition of a host of new talent, the GIANTS will be hoping to kickstart their season with a bang in Sunday’s clash with the Eagles.
The round one game will be an historic event for the GIANTS, with the game to be the first time the club has ever played an AFL-AFLW double-header at ENGIE Stadium.
The GIANTS will trim their extended squad down to a final team of 21, to be announced at 5pm on Friday.
