Evans named for AFL Women’s debut
The GIANTS have named their team for their opening round clash of season five of the NAB AFL Women’s competition.
In what has been a big month for the GIANTS, the club enters round one full of mixed emotions.
The first-round match will welcome the first two debutants of the 2021 season with draftee Tarni Evans and former WNBL player Erin Todd getting the nod to pull on the orange and charcoal for the first time.
18-year-old Evans was drafted at pick nine from the Queanbeyan Tigers. The former endurance athlete moved to Canberra from the South Coast of NSW in 2017 to play in a pathway competition for more exposure and opportunity.
At the other end of the spectrum, 34-year-old Todd only took up the sport a few years ago, with her skills and experience in elite sport enabling an easy transition into her new sport at this level.
Defender Louise Stephenson and ruck Jess Allan are both unavailable for the round one match due to the current border restrictions in place. Stephenson is currently based in Sydney for her work with NSW Fire and Rescue while Allan is in Canberra for ADFA commitments.
The round one clash will also mark the first official competition match since the passing of inaugural GIANT Jacinda Barclay.
A series of tributes have been put in place to honour the former GIANT, and forever number 34 including a minute’s silence prior to the match.
The GIANTS and the Dockers will close out round one on Sunday afternoon.
GIANTS fans can watch the match live on 7mate in NSW and the ACT or on Foxtel, Kayo or the Telstra TV, AFL Women’s or AFL official apps.
Round 1
Fremantle Dockers v GIANTS
Sunday, January 31 at 4:10pm (EDT)/1:10pm (WST)
Fremantle Oval
FB: Annalyse Lister, Tanya Hetherington
HB: Pepa Randall, Lisa Steane, Jessica Dal Pos
C: Elle Bennetts, Alicia Eva, Nicola Barr
HF: Taylah Davies, Sarah Halvorsen, Haneen Zreika
FF: Cora Staunton, Emily Goodsir
RR: Erin McKinnon, Alyce Parker, Tarni Evans
Interchange: Aimee Schmidt, Erin Todd, Rebecca Beeson, Jodie Hicks, Rebecca Privitelli
Emergencies: Tait Mackrill, Georgia Garnett
