Giants Season Preview
If ever a team had a season that tested its depth and resilience, it was the Giants in 2025.
Injuries reshaped their season almost from the start. Matilda McDonell was sidelined long-term, and then in Round 7 the defensive end took another huge hit when Jodi-Ann Ward ruptured her ACL. Suddenly the Giants were scrambling for reinforcements.
Enter New Zealand legend Casey Kopua, who came out of retirement to join the club as a temporary replacement player for the remainder of the season. Her arrival brought an enormous amount of experience and calm to a defensive end that had been thrown into chaos.
But perhaps the most encouraging part of the Giants’ season was the way others rose to the challenge. Erin O’Brien and Amy Sligar lifted several levels, helping the Giants collect most of their five wins in the back half of the season.
Still, the off-season has delivered more change.
Club legend Jo Harten has retired, long-time coach Julie Fitzgerald has stepped away from the role, and midcourt stalwart Jamie-Lee Price has headed south to join the Mavericks.
The result? A fresh-looking Giants squad heading into 2026. There are Kiwi signings, a new tall shooter, emerging young talent and a new coach guiding the club. For a team that endured such turbulence last year, there’s a sense that the next chapter could be an exciting one.
Shooters
Lucy Austin
After a frustrating 2025 that saw her largely confined to the reserves with the Adelaide Thunderbirds, Austin arrives at the Giants looking for opportunity.
She’s a strong-bodied shooter with great height, but what makes her particularly interesting is her mobility. For a tall target she moves well, is clever with her footwork and has a reliable shot. With more court time, Austin has the potential to grow quickly and will be pushing hard to cement herself as the starting GS.
Matisse Letherbarrow
Each season Letherbarrow has looked a little more comfortable at SSN level. With more minutes on court she’s developing stronger holds, sharper angles and greater confidence in her movement.
Her shooting accuracy has rarely been in question; the next step is presence. If she can consistently impose herself in the circle and demand ball, she could push strongly for a starting role in either GA or GS.
Sophie Dwyer
With Harten’s retirement, the spotlight in the Giants’ shooting circle naturally shifts to Dwyer.
After four years and 18 caps with the Australian Diamonds, she’s no longer the emerging youngster.
Dwyer has always had the flair, the range and the confidence to change a game in a moment. Now, 2026 becomes the season where she’s expected to drive the attacking end and take ownership of the circle.
Midcourt
Amy Sligar
Sligar quietly had one of the most impressive growth seasons in 2025. With Kopua behind her for the latter half of the year, she had a defensive mastermind guiding the back end and it showed in her confidence and authority.
With Price moving on, Sligar now steps into an even bigger leadership role through the midcourt. Her appointment as Vice Captain signals just how important she is to the Giants’ structure.
Relentless in defence and composed with ball in hand, she’ll be expected to continue those commanding performances in 2026.
Hope White
White began 2025 as a training partner but quickly made herself impossible to ignore when she stepped in to replace Gina Crampton.
Her pace immediately stood out, along with a confident and accurate feed into the circle. Now heading into 2026 with a new shooting line-up, new midcourt combinations and a new defensive anchor behind her, this could be the season where White truly establishes herself as one of the Giants’ most exciting young prospects.
Casey Adamson
At 27, Adamson has finally secured a full contract in SSN, and her journey to get here has been anything but straightforward.
She debuted with the Collingwood Magpies as a training partner in 2022 before suffering a serious knee injury in 2024. Since then she’s rebuilt her game through strong performances in the Victorian Netball League.
Versatile, composed and a relentless defensive presence, Adamson adds depth and grit to the Giants midcourt.
Whitney Souness
One of the key recruits for 2026, Souness brings experience and international pedigree with 44 caps for the Silver Ferns.
She’s quick on her feet, intelligent in her decision-making and comfortable dictating pace. While replacing a player like Price is no small task, Souness’ leadership and experience make her well suited to filling that gap.
Defenders
Jodi-Ann Ward
Ward is currently on the comeback trail following her ACL injury last season. When fully fit, she’s one of the most exciting defenders in the league. Her athleticism allows her to cover enormous ground and her intercepts often seem to come from nowhere.
The Giants will be eager to see her return in orange, but as always with knee injuries, patience will be key.
Matilda McDonell
A contracted player in 2025, McDonell returns to the Giants this season as a temporary replacement player while Ward completes her recovery.
While she would no doubt have been disappointed not to secure a full contract, this opportunity gives her another chance to show what she can do at SSN level. And as netball has shown time and again, strong performances as a replacement can open unexpected doors.
Erin O’Brien
Few players grew more in confidence last season than O’Brien.
She began the year in Goal Keeper but shifted out to Goal Defence when Kopua joined the line-up. The move proved a revelation. Having played much of her junior netball at GD, the extra space allowed her to attack ball and create angles in front of the circle.
After soaking up knowledge from Kopua last year, she now has another defensive master behind her to learn from in Watson. The expectation around O’Brien in 2026 is significant.
Jane Watson
One of the biggest signings of the off-season, Watson arrives from New Zealand to anchor the Giants’ defensive circle.
With more than 100 appearances for the Silver Ferns, she brings enormous experience, leadership and presence. Watson’s aerial style and ability to read space can completely disrupt attacking structures, forcing feeders into uncomfortable decisions.
Following Kopua’s short but impactful stint with the club, Watson continues the Kiwi defensive legacy at the Giants. It will be fascinating to see how quickly that partnership with O’Brien develops.
The Big Picture
There’s no denying the Giants enter 2026 looking very different.
Two club legends have stepped away, a key midcourt leader has moved on, and a new coach is guiding the club. Several fresh faces are also stepping into important roles.
But there’s also reason for optimism.
The back end now boasts one of the most experienced defenders in world netball. The midcourt blends emerging talent with international experience. And the shooting circle has a mix of youth, height and proven scoring power.
After a tumultuous 2025, the Giants feel like a team in transition. But if their new combinations settle quickly, this group could surprise a few people along the way.
Giants 2026
Squad:
Casey Adamson
Lucy Austin
Sophie Dwyer
Matisse Letherbarrow
Matilda McDonnell (temporary replacement player)
Erin O’Brien
Amy Sligar (VC)
Whitney Souness (C)
Jodi-Ann Ward
Jane Watson
Hope White
Training Partners:
Eva Carneiro
Audrey Little
Monika ‘Otai
Skye Thompson
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach - Nerida Stewart
Assistant Coach - Jen Wright
2025 Ladder Position:
6th
