FORMER basketball star Jess Bibby and elite soccer player Ellie Brush have joined Greater Western Sydney as rookies ahead of the inaugural AFL Women's season in 2017.
Australian basketball legend Bibby, 37, has played more than 200 WNBL games and won several WNBL championships.
Representing both the Dandenong Rangers and Canberra Capitals over her time, the 37-year-old was drafted by New York Liberty in the WNBA in 2000.
Bibby tried out at the Giants' athlete talent search in mid-August where her skills were on display.
"Jess was one of the standouts at our talent search and showed great athleticism and professionalism throughout the day," Schmidt said.
"She was then one of the best on ground in the practice match at the State Combine a week ago which really solidified our decision to rookie-list her."
Brush, 28, has most recently played for the Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League in the United States, where she has played 29 matches.
She has 94 W-League appearances under her belt, with the ACT product captaining Canberra United for the past eight seasons.
The 165cm defender will appear in the upcoming W-League season before joining the Giants for the AFL Women's competition, which will run from February to March.
Giants coach Tim Schmidt identified Brush as a potential starter for the inaugural AFL Women’s competition back in early 2016.
"We first saw Ellie at the National Talent Search the AFL did at the start of the year," he said.
"Her results were amongst the very top on the day, but we were particularly impressed with her skills in the game.
"She is a very smooth mover around the ground with the skills to match."
The Giants have now filled their two rookie spots for the upcoming season which are for players who have not played a game of community or state football in the past three years.
The latest pair join the club’s two marquee players and five priority players who have already been listed by the club. The remainder of the list will be finalised at the first ever AFL Women’s Draft on October 12 where the Giants hold the No.1 pick.