Tara Murray
It’s full steam ahead for the Gisborne Giants as they look to fully launch their senior program in the Riddell District Football Netball League next year.
After having to put plans on hold for 12 months while their new home ground at the Macedon Ranges Regional Sport Precinct was being finished, the Giants are getting ready for the 2025 season.
The club has put out applications for senior coaches for both men’s and women’s football, along with a head netball coach and coaches for all the grades, along with football and netball directors.
Giants president Brad Gauci said it was an exciting time for the club.
“We’ve hit the ground running the last couple of weeks,” he said. “We’ve got confirmation that we should have the new ground in July or August which means we can have pre-season for seniors and juniors there.
“We’ve now started the process of recruiting for senior roles.”
Plans for the Giants to have a full array of senior teams in netball and football have been in the pipework since 2016.
Gauci said the ground not being ready last season put a dent in their plans but they’ve done a lot of work to get to these stages.
The Giants have had an under-19 football team the last couple of seasons and finished runners-up last year.
Gauci said they were hoping that group would provide the core of its senior program in the future.
“We’ve been building towards that with our under-17 and under-19 program the last couple of years,” he said.
“We’ve got a base group of players coming through. We’re hoping to keep most of them and et some new talent in as well.
“Hopefully we’ll got a step further this season.”
The Giants had hoped to have an under-19 netball team this season but it wasn’t possible with the competition structure.
Instead they entered a team in the new D-grade competition with Gauci saying it was making sure their junior netballers knew there was a pathway.
Gauci said with being the main tenant at the new ground there was the opportunity to look at having a women’s football side in their first year.
On field, the Giants this season will host an Indigenous Round on the weekend of May 24 for all their senior and junior teams.
In a first for the Giants, all teams will play wearing a special-edition, Indigenous designed football jumper or netball dress.
The designs were created by Ky-ya Nicholson Ward, a young and vibrant Wurundjeri woman.
Nicholson Ward named the design, Mundanai which is a Wurundjeri word translating to ’embrace’ and illustrates the approach the club will have towards the Indigenous round and towards First Nation’s people and lands in our community.
Gauci said participation in community sport is the main purpose at the Giants and as a community club it’s important to embrace and respect the many cultures and beliefs within the club, as well as in the wider Gisborne community.
The Giants are holding a community information evening to launch their 2025 season on May 15 at Baringo Food and Wine Co in New Gisborne from 6.30pm
Details: secretary@gisbornegiantsfnc.club
