Alicia Eva has a key role to play in Greater Western Sydney’s triple flag quest
Some players are happy to win one flag, but GWS Giants AFLW skipper Alicia Eva is aiming to win three of them in the one year.
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Alicia Eva is striving to deliver not one, not two but three flags to the Giants in 2020.
The 28-year-old is in an unusual position, combining her playing duties as skipper of the club’s AFLW side with her role as a NEAFL development coach in the men’s program.
And as a new season looms for both the men and women in orange and charcoal the club has ramped up preparations with a historic training session.
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Eva and her AFLW teammates were put through their paces yesterday alongside the likes of Jeremy Cameron and Stephen Coniglio for the first time in the club’s short history.
No “us and them”. It’s about working and achieving success as one, Eva insists.
“We’re chasing three flags in a way, with the NEAFL (reserve) premiership as well, that’d be nice,” Eva told The Sunday Telegraph after the gruelling session.
“Nine to five I’m a development coach, then five to nine I’m an AFLW player. I have to balance my time but you go in all guns blazing and hopefully reach a good outcome at the end of it all.”
The club’s WestConnex Centre HQ is home to the AFL, AFLW and Giants Netball sides. It is designed with unity at its core.
“You have the support and the backing of the other professional athletes in the building and it just drives the standard,” Eva said.
“There are things up all around the place as a reminder that the club is home to three teams.
“I really do think the club have done a fantastic job integrating the three platforms. An AFL club in Western Sydney, when it was first established, had to be diverse and had to have a really good culture in order to succeed and it’s no surprise the Giants have done so well in that.”
While Giants head of coaching Alan McConnell is the man in charge, Eva’s side also works with several members of Leon Cameron’s squad.
“We’ve been really lucky to have Heath Shaw on board the last couple of seasons, Sam Reid too, while Matty Buntine is doing some player welfare stuff with us,” Eva said.
“Mark McVeigh, who I work closely with in the backline sense with the men, he’s doing some contact, combat tackle stuff with us and it’s only getting bigger and better.”