Passing the Torch is a new spin-off podcast series under the Credit to the Girls umbrella. It profiles the young players of the AFL Women's competition who will be at the forefront of the league over the next 10 years. Episodes can be listened to via the traditional Credit to the Girls feed, wherever you get your podcasts.
GREATER Western Sydney star Alyce Parker is looking forward to a season with a healthy list, and the Giants will be looking to build on last year's new game plan.
Cam Bernasconi took the reins in season seven, but his fresh and quick method was stymied by a bulging injury ward, including Bec Beeson (long-term concussion), Pepa Randall, Isabel Huntington and Emily Pease (ACL), Fleur Davies (shoulder), Chloe Dalton (hamstring) and Tait Mackrill (foot).
"Just the nature of AFLW, the girls' footy education, it can be quite raw at times. But to have a game plan where everyone actually knew how to execute it and why we were executing it, that was something that was really powerful for the girls who had only been playing footy for a year or two," Parker said.
"To really buy in and connect with this new game-plan and the terminologies and the concepts – 'Berna' is just such a good educator, that's something that was really special and powerful last year and a good foundation going forward.
"Our doctor, who's been involved in sport for 25 years, said he's never seen anything like it, where you hit round three and you’ve lost eight of your starting 21. It was a huge hit, but that's just footy and you use those cliches, but at the end of the day, that's a lot of our strength lost.
"We had players like Madi Brazendale play all 10 games, and prior to [the injuries] she might have debuted later in the season, but she was one of our best performers. In my opinion, one of the hardest things to do at a club is to keep a culture and maintain a culture whilst you're losing, and the fact we've done that since day dot, is something so special and powerful about this club."
The returning players will go some way to offsetting the loss of experienced trio Cora Staunton, Tanya Hetherington and Bríd Stack, who all retired over the off-season.
"Consistency is a powerful tool in success, and we unfortunately had a fair few on the inactive list, so in terms of this year coming in, it was really good having those girls come in on the primary list," Parker said.
"Whilst seeing Cora and 'Tanny' and 'Stacky' leave – they had a lot of experience and leadership they gave to the team – we now have a new generation of Giants who have been shaped by those leaders in particular.
"We have a responsibility to honour the work they've done and actually buy in and commit and drive this club into a successful future. We're really excited."
EPISODE GUIDE
0.31 – Getting back to the farm over the off-season
3.22 – Studying agriculture
8.50 – Hubbing in 2021
11.56 – The impact of Alicia Eva
16.01 – The pride of Greater Western Sydney
18.26 – Coach Cam Bernasconi's first season
20.21 – Personnel changes in 2023
23.11 – Evolution of women's football in New South Wales
25.10 – Leadership with Parker
