The GIANTS will head south to the Apple Isle for their first inter club practice match this week.
Headed for destination Tasmania, the GIANTS will take on the Melbourne Mavericks in two pre-season matches, one in Ulverstone and one in Launceston.
Thursday’s game will played at the Ulverstone Sports & Leisure Centre and will involve five 10-minute terms, with Saturday’s game at the Silverdome replicating a Super Netball match with four quarters of 15-minute duration.
It will be the first time this pre-season the GIANTS have tested their progress against a Suncorp Super Netball opposition.
The GIANTS will travel with a squad of 12 which will feature a mix of fan-favourites as well as some of the club’s best young and emerging talent from the GIANTS Academy.
Matisse Letherbarrow will lead a young shooting circle fresh off the success of her experience in the Australian Fast5 team.
Gina Crampton will don the orange and charcoal for the first time since being elevated from a training partner to a full-time contract.
Fellow midcourter Maddie Hay will be looking to get the most out of her pre-season preparations after missing all of pre-season and half of the 2024 season with a serious hip injury.
Defenders Tilly McDonell and Erin O’Brien will continue to work on their defensive combination while Jodi-Ann Ward is still abroad representing Jamaica.
Training partners Monika ‘Otai and Hope White will continue to expand their exposure to the Super Netball environment and increased intensity.
Meanwhile, Academy athletes Eloise Egan (defender), Audrey Little (midcourt), Jamie Podmore-Taylor (midcourt) and Millie Tonkin (shooter) will join the team for the first time as part of the extended squad.
Jo Harten and Jamie-Lee Price will travel with the team for community engagement but will not take the court as they continue to manage their training load ahead of the 2025 season.
GIANTS Head Coach Julie Fitzgerald said she was looking forward to the trip.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to get away with the team, spend time together away from the training environment and also test where we are at at this point in time,” she said.
“Every pre-season is an opportunity for growth and to try different things.
“We’ve been working hard on some key areas since we returned for pre-season and these games against the Mavericks will be an important milestone in our season 2025 preparations.
“We’re not looking for perfection right now but we want to see that we’re moving in the right direction and that the hard work we’ve put in so far is starting to pay off.”
The games in Tasmania will not be live streamed but members and fans can follow the GIANTS socials for score updates and results.
Team List:
Gina Crampton
Eloise Egan**
Maddie Hay
Audrey Little**
Matisse Letherbarrow
Tilly McDonell
Monika ‘Otai*
Erin O’Brien
Jamie Podmore-Taylor**
Amy Sligar
Millie Tonkin**
Hope White*
*denotes training partner
** denotes GIANTS Academy
Match Details:
Match 1: Mavericks v GIANTS
Thursday, December 12 at 6pm
Ulverstone Sports & Leisure Centre
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Match 2: Mavericks v GIANTS
Saturday, December 14 at 11am
Silverdome
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