The 2020 AFLW fixture was released last week and it revealed plenty of opportunities to get out and about and cheer for our UNSW athletes as they take on this expanding competition.
The 2020 season will contain eight rounds in the regular season, plus three weeks of finals, and will include 14 teams - four more than 2019. Richmond, St Kilda, West Coast and Gold Coast will all join the competition for the first time. The competition will be split into two conferences, each with seven teams. Each team will play against all teams in their own conference and four teams in the other conference.
The conference system has been an ongoing point of contention, with many players wishing to have a full home and away season. It was a key factor in holding up the signing of the new collective bargaining agreement, but with the agreement now signed, the conference system will remain in place for the forseeable future.
UNSW Commerce and Media student Rebecca Beeson won the coveted Gabrielle Trainor Medal for the best and fairest player at the Greater Western Sydney Giants in 2019. She returns for the Giants in 2020 and will be looking to back up an incredible year of individual achievement - where she was also named in the AFLW All Australian squad - with a season of stronger team success on the field after a disappointing 2019.
Joining Rebecca again will be UNSW Psychological Sciences student Tait Mackrill, who went on an emotional rollercoaster with the Giants, getting delisted at the end of the season, only to be picked up again in the draft in October at pick 95.
Now in its fourth season, the AFLW is brilliant to watch and we want to see everyone get on board and support our incredible student athletes, both members of UNSW's Elite Athlete Program.
You can see the Giants in action in Sydney starting in early February.
Greater Western Sydney Giants AFLW Fixture 2020
Saturday 7 February - Giants v Gold Coast Suns at Blacktown International Sports Park
Sunday 23 February - Giants v West Coast Eagles at Blacktown International Sports Park
Saturday 21 March - Giants v Geelong Cats at Giants Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park