GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs AFLW — battle to avoid the wooden spoon in season one

IT’S a playoff for last place against the Western Bulldogs, a mantle GWS Giants are desperate not to finish with. But it is also about hitting set targets to be satisfied with how season one comes to a close.

Erin McKinnon of the Giants is tackled during the round six AFL Women's match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Olympic Park on March 12, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

THE GWS Giants head in to their final game of the season with mixed emotions.

It’s a playoff for last place against the Western Bulldogs, a mantle they are desperate not to finish with. But this match will also be about hitting the targets they’ve set in order to be satisfied with how season one comes to a close.

“We definitely don’t want to finish on the bottom of the ladder,” club captain Amanda Farrugia said.

“We know we can play really good football and when we’re on we can be quite electric. We want to make sure we bounce back from a pretty disappointing loss last week and make sure that we make good on some of the promises that we made to each other as teammates throughout the week.

Giants know possession and winning the contest for the ball will be key to getting a win in the final round. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

“We looked inwardly at our group and said to ourselves, what do we want to bring to the table on Saturday, and what do we want our legacy to be at the end of our last round game?

“We want to be a bit more competitive and be first to the contest. It sounds football cliche but that’s what wins you games.

“In the women’s game it’s different to the men’s game and we have to rely on maintaining possession and to do that you have to get to the ball first. That’s going to be our biggest challenge.”

While the Giants hope they’ll be able to go out on a high note in Canberra tonight, Farrugia said there is a feeling of sadness as an uncertainty hangs over the team in regards to next season.

Having not received word from the AFL as to the process for bringing teams together for season two, the players know there are teammates they may not play with again.

Giants have won one match and drew another, but a loss this weekend will leave them in last place for 2017. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

“We had our last training session [Thursday] night and it was quite mixed emotions. Bit of sadness; sadness that the opportunity has gone by so quickly but also sadness that there’s a chance we might not see some of our teammates again,” Farrugia said.

“That’s the most difficult part because when you endure a pre-season together for the first time and then the inaugural competition, the first members of the first Giants team, it’s all been a very special experience and the end has come around so quickly.

“The saddest part is potentially knowing you might not be able to see your mates every day again.”

Giants play the Bulldogs in Round 7 of the AFLW at Manuka Oval in Canberra at 7.10pm AEDT.

Originally published as GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs AFLW — battle to avoid the wooden spoon in season one