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Irish woman Cora Staunton has been elevated to the leadership group of the GWS Giants AFLW team.

Ireland's Cora Staunton has been named as part of a new-look GWS Giants AFLW leadership team .

The first international player drafted by an AFL women's club, the 38-year-old Staunton is set for her third year with the Sydney-based club.

Staunton, a former Gaelic football star, joins Pepa Randall and Britt Tully in being elevated to the group for the first time.

Jessica Dal Pos continues in a leadership role for the fourth straight season.

The four players were recently voted in by their peers to support Alicia Eva, who was appointed captain for 2020 last November.

Eva steps into the role vacated by the retired Amanda Farrugia

Forward Staunton is highly respected by her teammates and displayed strong leadership and exceptional resilience over her first two seasons at the club.

She has captained both Gaelic football and rugby union teams in the past.

The new look leadership group follows the departure of Emma Swanson and Christina Bernardi.

Veteran defender Tanya Hetherington has stepped away from the official leadership group but will assist with the team's future leaders program.

For the first time, the club has elected not to name a vice-captain with the duties to be shared by the four players.