Seven of Canberra's brightest stars have earned a state league lifeline after signing with the GWS Giants in a revamped AFL reserves competition.
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A host of the region's top players were left stranded when the Canberra Demons disbanded in the wake of the NEAFL being scrapped last year.
But the Giants have signed 18 players from Sydney and Canberra to bolster their squad for a new-look VFL competition.
The Giants' campaign begins with a derby against the Sydney Swans at Tramway Oval outside the SCG on April 17.
Among them are seven AFL Canberra exports in Kel Evans, Billy Clark, Alex Smout, Matt McGrory, Rhys Pollock, Lleyton Chisolm and Matt Ackland.
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Former Mulrooney Medallist Evans shifted from Queanbeyan to Camden this season. Eastlake Demons duo Smout and Clark are part of the Giants academy, as are Gungahlin's McGrory and Queanbeyan Tiger Pollock. Ainslie duo Chisolm and Ackland round out the group.
"We're really excited to be able to tap into the existing talent in our region and offer opportunities for those players to experience an AFL-level program," Giants reserves coach Luke Kelly said.
"Our senior academy players will continue to be heavily integrated into our reserves program, while all 20 of these players will be in and around the club on a weekly basis."
