Cain to play game #75
(as will Conway and Houghton elsewhere, and Chelsea if she’s fit to go)
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So we have 26, perhaps, fit to choose from.
Importantly Georgia Clarke and Taya Chambers are not listed here.
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Hurry up with our announcements for goodness sakes EFC!
The first and the last look set to be guns.
Not so confident on Ridewood.
(very small sample!)
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If they are the only debuts, we can pretty easily deduce the complete team now…
B: Sheridan, Chambers, Gamble, Clarke, Morcom
C: Prespakis, Nanscawen, Belloni, Cain, Gaylor, Murphy
F: Gee, Bannister, Adams, Alexander, Toogood
Int: Ridewood, Dyke, Busch + the not-listed-as-injured vanDeHeuvel and Walker
No: vanDyke, Maclachlan (the emergency), Gladman, Verbrugge, Brooker
Not available: Gough, Gay, Keaney, Strong, Radford, Wales, Brown
EDIT: Above is wrong, as Sheridan is yet to make a debut with us or at the Bears. So swap her out for vanDyke… urgh.
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Presumably if Murphy hasn’t been announced they are either only announcing AFLW debuts, in which case Maclachlan would be eligible from the above or Murphy is not playing?
No, Murphy played one game for GWS last year.
And while I wasn’t too impressed by Murphy in the VFLW, it would be a big statement to not play her. I love Dyke’s work ethic, but she’ll always get exploited by a “real” ruck.
Yeah agree. I was more meaning that MacLachlan could also be playing given she has also already made her AFLW debut
They love Busch, so you likely have to knock off one of those two normal-auto-ins at the end of my interchange bench.
Last time they met: This will be the first times the two sides meet in the AFLW
One of the last unknowns in the AFLW, Greater Western Sydney and Essendon will face off for the first time in their history to kick off their 2025 seasons. Throughout the practice matches, Essendon’s midfield did get caught out at times, leaving a little door open for the Giants to get a bit of control in the game. Irish duo Eilish O’Dowd and Grace Kós have the potential to create some real unpredictability through the middle of the ground, sharing ruck duties and, for O’Dowd, potentially some midfield minutes too.
Maddi Gay’s absence also leaves a hole across half-back for the Bombers, meaning others must step up and offer organisation across the line. It does present as a chance for star Giant Zarlie Goldsworthy to get dangerous ahead of the play. On the positive side, however, is a fully fit Bonnie Toogood set to lead the side, and likely required higher up the ground at times. And for the Bombers, pressure footy has proven to be their best friend across the preseason, and that is a real asset in unsettling opposition sides.
Tip: It really should be Essendon’s game to lose, but the Giants are in with a real shot. Greater Western Sydney by two points.
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Cam Bernasconi has named six new GIANTS to take on Essendon in the first-ever meeting between the sides.
Local product Sophie Kavanagh rounds out a new-look GIANTS side as the team head down the Hume for round one of AFLW season 10.
The former North Melbourne Kangaroo and Parramatta Goannas midfielder will make her AFLW debut on Saturday after joining the GIANTS as a replacement player for Chloe Dalton ahead of the pre-season.
Bringing agility and athleticism, Kavanagh can line up both on the wing and at half-forward, making her a versatile addition to the GIANTS’ 2025 line-up as they look to increase their speed of transition and run-and-release play.
Kavanagh joins fellow Goanna Caitlin Fletcher in her first AFLW game, alongside Irish recruit Grace Kos, who was also announced to the group on Thursday to make her debut.
The three round out five first-gamers, after 2024 draftees Sara Howley and Grace Martin were named earlier in the week to take the field with experienced defender Eleanor Brown, who returns to top flight football after two years away from the game.
Brown’s experience and judicious approach to moving the football forward will be key in the GIANTS rebounding, as they look to limit the Bombers uncontested possessions and aerial entries into their attacking 50.
Brown will partner with Martin in the backline, whose debut comes off the back of an incredible work rate sustained through the pre-season and is touted for her ground ball work and aggression.
Howley adds significant footy IQ, with an adept ability to read and anticipate play, making her an important addition on the wing.
Game temperature to start around 7° and finish around 4°…
Modest breeze from the camera to the far wing (so somewhat sheltered by the grandstand).
Verbrugge appears to be the travelling emergency.
I love our debutantes but ffs why can’t we have one called Zippy Fish
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