WHEN the GWS Giants, featuring Nowra's Maddy Collier, and the Carlton Blues go head-to-head in round three of the AFLW at Blacktown on Saturday, both teams will be angling to finally put points on the ladder by securing their first win of the season.
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"I think this week is a really good challenge for us to band back together," Giants forward Christina Bernardi said.
"With both teams not having a win yet, I’m assuming both teams are pretty excited."
Carlton won when the teams faced each other in round two last year, but the Blues have not won a game since.
Both teams have had a slow start to the season and copped a thumping from competition newcomers the Kangaroos.
But where the Blues - who were the recipients of last year's wooden spoon - put on a show with a high-scoring match against Adelaide last week, the Giants have so far struggled to convert opportunities in the forward 50.
"We know that we could probably do better than what we have been by getting the scores on the board," Bernardi said.
The Giants forward said the team left their storm-lashed loss against the Kangaroos in Drummoyne feeling "pretty disappointed".
"We held the game for a lot of it and then they ran over us in the end," she said.
"We had lots of opportunities last week, we just couldn't finish off. But we’re really focused on the fact we had those opportunities.
"We just just need to finish off, hopefully with a bit of a cleaner game than last week."
GWS will debut 19-year-old Tait Mackrill on on Saturday, but will be without defender Nicola Barr who copped a one week suspension for rough conduct after the Kangaroos clash.
The comfort of their home ground and a strong show of support following the club's fan day on Saturday should provide an additional morale boost for the team, after a strong week of training at Spotless Stadium.
"It’s been a good change of scenery for the girls," Bernardi said.
"Training the other night was pretty up and about, so I think it’s really helped communication-wise as well."
While the Giants' finals hopes rest on the prospect of replicating the round three victory that kicked off their winning streak last year, Bernardi says the team is approaching the season week at a time.
"There is the pressure of it being such a short season, but I think the reality is that we have to take game by game, and if we get too far ahead of ourselves then we’re kind of out of it anyway," Bernardi said.
"If we can play Giants brand footy and do it well, then the win will take care of itself."
