The Bathurst Giants may have to wait until the end of the month before the opening bounce of the 2018 Central West AFL (CWAFL) premierships, but preparations for the season are well underway.

Since forming in 2014 the Giants have expanded from a junior club into the league’s senior ranks and now they are set to field two new sides.

“This is the first year for our women’s team, which is fantastic and a great sign of growth for the club, and we’ve also got our inaugural year of youth girls,” vice-president Ashley Boylan explained.

“From a club that just started off as another junior opportunity in the town to where we are now, it’s really exciting.

“We are making sure we are putting resources into all our teams. Having the women’s and the youth girls teams now, it’s not only a great opportunity for them, but it has a wider effect on the club as well, numbers are up at training.”

Since the introduction of the women’s premiership to the CAWFL, it has been the Bathurst Lady Bushrangers who have dominated.

The Giants’ women’s side, which will be coached by Liz Kennedy, is hoping to add to the city’s reputation of fielding strong female footballers.

“I think that this is definitely a development year, that is the reality of starting a new team and we know that as a new club, but it’s great to see things growing,” Boylan said.

“The success will be building that team and creating the foundation. I think that being competitive is going to be their aim.”

The youth girls side will be coached by Steve Mann, who is also the assistant coach of the Western Region Academy of Sport’s girls’ squad.

Even before they have played a game in the new competition three Giants – Molly Mann, Saige Davies and Lucy Dunn – have been selected to participate in the WRAS program.

The rest of the Giants coaching staff, who will be officially announced this Saturday, consists of Boylan and Brad Broes (Auskick), Mick Sloan (under 12s), Andrew Collins (under 14s), Jason Molkentin (under 16s) and Mark Kennedy (men).

Boylan said the club is excited to see what Kennedy and his seniors can produce this season.

“We know how enthusiastic and keen he is and how much of an excellent coach he is and another of his strengths is that he’s such a good mentor,” he said.

“There is a lot of experience in the team but also a lot of youth, so to be able to balance that and mentor the younger players is fantastic.

“They’ll look to build on the success of last season. They’ve got another season of senior football under their belt now and as a football club, we are really excited about the senior men’s team this year.”