Pippa Smyth is on the verge of making her AFL Women’s debut after being named in the GWS Giants’ 23-person squad for Sunday’s clash with Collingwood.
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Smyth, from Salamander Bay, Louise Stephenson, Jodie Hicks and Maddy Collier – all new faces to the Sydney club this season – were added to the squad list, with Renee Tomkins and Maddy Boyd the confirmed omissions at this stage.
Being a Sunday game, the Giants will trim their team to 21.
The 21-person squad was due to be announced at noon on Friday, however, a list has not yet been made available.
Defender Stephenson, forward Hicks and midfielder Collier could make their returns to the side after missing the round two clash with Carlton.
If selected, Nelson Bay Marlins product Smyth would make her AFLW debut.
The 22-year-old Smyth previously told Fairfax Media that she is relishing every minute of being part of an elite sporting club.
Smyth has only played the sport for three years but in October was drafted to the AFLW.
The personal trainer has endured, and enjoyed, a rigorous pre-season and has received encouraging feedback from the coaching staff but knows she is still a new kid on the block.
“Everything is going well,” Smyth said. “The training itself, I absolutely love, and to be able to train as an elite athlete has been pretty incredible.”
Smyth has been a stand-out in the Black Diamond AFL women’s competition and gained national attention by blitzing the fitness testing component of the AFLW combine last year.
At the time, Giants director of coaching and AFLW coach Alan McConnell described Smyth as “innately a lot of raw talent and athleticism”.
“I’ve only played for a short amount of time and come from a league that’s only just been developed, so working on skills and getting a game is going to be a big highlight for me [this year],” Smyth said.
The Giants head to Olympic Park Oval to take on Collingwood in round three of the AFLW with both teams looking for their first win of the season. The game begins at 4.35pm on Sunday afternoon.
Giants Squad
2. Alicia Eva
3. Phoebe McWilliams
5. Jodie Hicks
6. Rebecca Beeson
7. Jessica Dal Pos
8. Nicola Barr
9. Tanya Hetherington
10. Ellie Brush
11. Aimee Schmidt
12. Lousie Stephenson
13. Cora Staunton
14. Maddy Collier
15. Pippa Smyth
16. Britt Tully
17. Emma Swanson
18. Amanda Farrugia (c)
21. Pepa Randall
22. Elle Bennetts
23. Erin McKinnon
26. Courtney Gum
27. Renee Forth
28. Phoebe Monahan
34. Jacinda Barclay