AFLW: GWS Giants to ’have it out’ against Fremantle in honour of ‘powerful trailblazer’ Jacinda Barclay

Jacinda Barclay had a saying the GWS Giants will have in their minds when they take the field without their late teammates, says debutant Erin Todd.

Jacinda Barclay’s death last October rocked the football community. Picture: AAP

Giants debutant Erin Todd says the best way her side can honour their late teammate Jacinda Barclay is to “have it out” against Fremantle on Sunday, when GWS kick off their 2021 AFLW campaign.

The football community was rocked when Barclay, an inaugural Giant and multi-sport athlete, was found dead in her Perth home late October last year. She was just 29.

“Jacinda has been around the group since the very first day … it was huge for the girls,” Todd said.

“The good thing is, we have each other. We have dealt with it and spoken about it in depth and I think we’re in a much better place to talk about it and celebrate her.

“She would want nothing more than for us to go out on Sunday and just rip in. I think her saying was “have it out” and that saying just defined her. She was aggressive, powerful and a trailblazer in women‘s sport.

“The game, even the pre-game, will show that the girls are still grieving and they probably will be for a long time. She meant a lot to the group. We’ve spoken in-depth about, it’s okay to feel whatever you feel. The best way we can represent her is to play really well on Sunday.”

Todd returned to footy, after a successful WNBL career spanning almost 10 years with Dandenong, Adelaide and the Sydney Flames.

Ex-WNBL basketballer Erin Todd will make her AFLW debut for the Giants. Picture: AFL Photos

GWS coach Alan McConnell - who coached Todd’s father John Lorenzin at Fitzroy - invited the point guard along to a session when the AFLW first launched.

“I said no, I’m retired and 8 months pregnant. But then I watched a couple of seasons of the AFLW and thought this is really cool” Todd said.

After giving birth to her second child, Todd was playing for the Giants in the VFLW Invitational series and the Inner West Magpies in the Sydney Women’s competition.

Today, the 34-year-old will make her AFLW debut and she is overjoyed to share the experience with her kids Xavier (4) and Yale (2), who have been on the road with GWS all season.

“It’s been full on trying to work full time, have two kids here and play … . the AFL have been supportive and provided babysitters and the club has been amazing with their support, nothing has been too much for us,” Todd said.

“My son’s 4 years old, you can tell him that women can do and play anything, but actually showing him during an experience like this, he’s going to grow up thinking girls can do whatever they want, they can play whatever sport they want.”

Erin Todd’s WNBL career spanned 10 years with Dandenong, Adelaide and the Sydney Flames.

As the Giants kick off their 2021 AFLW campaign, the defender believes they have the depth and mental stamina to succeed this year.

“We’ve got a really even squad, it’s the beauty of our team, it’ll be a real strength of ours.” Todd said.

“Everything that we’ve gone through, even just being away for the last 4 or 5 weeks, we’re going to need everyone.

“It’s obviously a big game for our footy club ... I’m excited to be out there to support the girls, but also to focus on the game and hopefully we can get the win.”

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