GWS AFLW team crashes to loss to Hawthorn as emotional toll of Wacky Wednesday drama strikes

GWS believes the relationships between the club’s AFL and AFLW groups can be restored after they were fractured by the Wacky Wednesday drama which has rocked the Giants.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 19: Pepa Randall of the Giants looks dejected after a loss during the 2024 AFLW Round 08 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the GWS Giants at Kinetic Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

GWS women’s coach Cam Bernasconi says players struggled with “emotion fatigue” in a 37-point loss to Hawthorn amid the fallout from the club’s AFL end of season gathering.

After AFLW captain Rebecca Beeson detailed the “deep hurt and anger” felt by teammates following news of players’ demeaning behaviour towards women at their Wacky Wednesday private function, the Giants started hot against the Hawks but could not sustain their efforts in a second-half blowout.

Bernasconi, who observed his side had “played a little bit angry” when he addressed the group at quarter-time, said the difficult week had clearly had an impact on their performance.

“It does filter into the footy club. I was really proud with how the girls could weather that this week, and then come out,” the coach said.

“There is a big emotional toll it has, on not just the playing group but everyone inside the footy club with the actions of what happened.

“The girls – I thought they came out and you could see a lot of emotion fatigue probably late in the game, but I was so proud they could come out and play a strong brand of footy.”

While Bernasconi said the relationship between the men’s and women’s football programs at GWS was “definitely repairable”, he said players and staff had endured a “really difficult week”.

GWS captain Rebecca Beeson in action against Hawthorn.

A statement shared on behalf of Beeson.

The Giants defied rules introduced for this season in the CBA by refusing multiple requests for AFLW players to be interviewed in the rooms after the game, or alongside Bernasconi in his post-match press conference.

Bernasconi said Beeson, who gave the statement on behalf of the players on Wednesday, had shown “unbelievable leadership” to put the group in a position to perform against the Hawks.

“I’m incredibly proud of Bec. Three years ago, when I first met Bec, she was quite introverted, and just a great player,” he said.

Alyce Parker embraces Claire Ransom after a tough week for the Giants’ AFLW players.

“I think that she’s played her best footy this year, but her ability to pick up the group … because it’s been a challenging year – condensed fixturing and losing games, that takes energy from you.

“Especially over the last few days, I thought she handled herself so well, and we’re really, really lucky to have Bec be the captain of this club.”

The coach said he was confident the club was committed to improving its culture and would “come out of this all together”.

“I think (the relationship) is definitely repairable. I think the club is working internally to make sure the men’s program learn from this. Our whole program is understanding that we’re in this together,” he said.