The GWS Giants return to Canberra marks a special week for Tarni Evans as the AFLW club looks to strengthen its finals bid at their second home.
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Evans' worlds will collide when the Giants host the Brisbane Lions at Manuka Oval on Saturday, in what will be their first match in the capital since 2019.
The Giants boast three AFL Canberra products in Evans, Emily Pease and Britt Tully, with the former playing a key role in their half-back line.
Evans has started four times in her debut season, only missing the Giants' win over the Gold Coast Suns due to a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle that occurred the week prior.
The 19-year-old from Tathra is relishing life as a Giant, saying she's built from week to week in the AFLW environment.
"Besides the ban, it's been an amazing experience and I've learned so much," Evans said.
"There's so much to take in that you don't think about otherwise, the quickness of the game, the physical stuff, different positionings, all that sort of stuff.
"Definitely just being with the Giants has been a massive learning experience, they've all been supportive and a few experience heads point you in the right direction. It's been pretty awesome."
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Alan McConnell's outfit is eager to bounce back from their 25-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, now sitting 10th on the ladder post the half-way mark.
But ahead of them is a tough Brisbane side, who enter the round-six clash riding the high of ending the Fremantle Docker's record 11-match winning streak with a 3.7(25) to 1.8(14) triumph.
"They seem like a confident team, if I get the chance I'm excited to have a good crack this weekend," Evans said.
"We're ready to rip in and give it everything, just bring it to them really."
If there's anything Evans has over the high-flying Lions, it's that she knows Manuka Oval - having won an AFL Canberra title with the Queanbeyan Tigers at the venue in 2019.
"It's a pretty fun oval, it's a great oval," Evans said.
"There's plenty of room for the wings to go around, it's pretty wide. It's always exciting to Manuka and have the stands there and everything... it's exciting to be back.
"I'm excited to have a crack this week, if I get picked it will be awesome to have family there, a lot of friends from Tathra, Queanbeyan and different mates from Canberra."
Unfortunately the AFLW clash collides with the Tigers' trial match against ADFA at Aulich Park.
AFLW Round six
Saturday: Giants v Brisbane Lions at Manuka Oval, 3.10pm.