The GWS Giants have lost their first AFL match - albeit a trial - after succumbing to a mishmash ACT outfit in the nation's capital on Saturday.

The youthful Giants were the victim of poor kicking, going down 8.19 (67) to 12.7 (79) at Canberra's Ainslie Oval on Saturday.

The fledging GWS team held a narrow lead at halftime before a tight last quarter saw the lead change at least four times.

A final six-pointer from the ACT's Ryan Price pushed the lead out to two goals and just beyond the Giants reach.

It puts the Giants on a one-one record, having notched their first victory in a 60-minute practice match against an under-21 Sydney Swans outfit last week.

The Canberra team was assembled from some of the best local players, who were vying for six potential spots on the GWS' squad when it begins its NAB Cup campaign next week.

Canberran Aaron Bruce, whose brother Josh is already part of GWS, is bound to get a look-in, having earned a best afield with three goals.

A crowd of about 2500 gathered under cloudy skies to see the match, along with the Giants' high-profile NRL recruit Israel Folau, who watched from the sidelines.

Still being nursed back to health, the former Brisbane Bronco is pencilled in for his first run in the AFL in about a fortnight's time, coach Kevin Sheedy said.

Sheedy was circumspect about the loss, noting that it was the team's first full-length match.

"We kicked probably 10 points in the last half, we didn't read the wind," he told AAP.

"But this is their first full game ever - it's getting a game under the belt ... this is their first day at school."

The Giants take on Sydney and the Gold Coast next Saturday in the NAB Cup.

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