AFLW: Australia v Ireland

SATURDAY, 1 AUGUST

Australian Football League Women (AFLW) REPRESENTATION MATCH

Australia v Ireland, North Sydney Oval, 7.15am (Irish time).

TV

Live coverage on the TG4 Player and TG4.ie from 7am. Deferred coverage on TG4 from 12.05pm.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

This will be the first women’s clash between the sides in a classic Aussie rules formats, a demonstration of the continued Irish imprint on the AFLW.

That will be very apparent when the 2026 campaign begins just over a week later, with 44 Irish players involved in the upcoming season.

AFL men’s games on Saturday have been scheduled around it so it gets a free time-slot.

The last AFLW representation match came back in 2017 when their State of Origin fixture saw players from Victoria defeat the Allies, consisting of players from the rest of Australia.

Back in 2006, Ireland did play Australia at Kingspan Breffni and Parnell Park in an international rules series with the rules closer to the men’s compromise matches we’re more familiar with but this is the first meeting in this format.

GAA President Jarlath Burns managed the side and they won the first test 134-15 with the second test finishing 39-18 in Ireland’s favour. Armagh’s Caroline O’Hanlon is the only remaining active inter-county player from the squad,

IS IT A SELLOUT?

Yes, it is.

More than 8,000 tickets were quickly snapped up for the first international clash between the countries, with a waitlist put in place for those not lucky enough to grab a spot at the North Sydney Oval.

The multisport facility, known locally as 'Bear Park', is one of the oldest cricket grounds in Australia with a pitch first laid in 1867.

One of the stands is named after famous Australian cricketer Bill ‘Tiger’ O’Reilly, made possible after his grandfather emigrated there from Cavan.

WHAT ABOUT THE RULES?

While the men’s matches we’ve known in the past combined rules from the GAA and the AFL, this will be played using AFLW rules, including the Sherrin ball.

WILL THIS LEAD TO A RETURN TO THE MEN’S SERIES?

This isn’t being viewed really as a tester for a men’s game return, the last of which was played back in 2017 with Australia coming out on top 2-0 on home turf.

Planned tests were cancelled in 2020 and 2022 although a masters series was played in more recent times.

There have been hints of both the GAA and AFL being open to a return, but finding a spot in the calendar is the most obvious hindrance.

A few years ago, controversial AFL star Jason Akermanis told RTÉ Sport the decision would ultimately lie with the Irish sporting body: "I would love to see it back, but it’s just what the GAA want to do. The AFL wouldn’t have a problem."

CAN WE MAKE THIS ABOUT MAYO?

Of course we can.

RTÉ GAA analyst Cora Staunton is having a week to remember after her county’s All-Ireland win and if an Irish player wins the best-on-ground medal, she will present it. Australian Football Hall of Fame member Debbie Lee will do so if the home team win it.

Staunton, of course, is Ireland’s most famous AFLW export. She was the first international player signed to the league when she joined GWS in the 2017 draft and was their leading goalscorer for four seasons.

Her record of 55 goals in 50 games is 23rd in the all-time goal-scoring record.

There are also more Mayo players involved in the Irish squad than any other county, with five: Dayna Finn, Rachel Kearns, Grace Kelly, Niamh Kelly and Sarah Rowe.

WHO’S WEARING THE IRISH JUMPERS?

There’s a squad of 25 Irish players for this, all made up of AFLW players.

As well as the five Mayo players mentioned above, Tipperary (4) and Donegal (3) are also well represented.

Bláithín Bogue, Jennifer Dunne, Niamh McLaughlin, Áine McDonagh and Dayne Finn all made the 2025 All-Australian team. Niamh Kelly, Erone Fitzpatrick and Aishling Moloney also made the initial 42-player selection before it was whittled down, so this is a strong squad.

Tipperary’s Orla O’Dwyer will have the honour of captaining the side. She the most experienced player in the Irish squad having played 82 games for the Brisbane Lions.

Jasmine Garner captains Australia.

Ireland: Bláithín Bogue (Fermanagh), Amy Boyle-Carr (Donegal), Kayleigh Cronin (Kerry), Neasa Dooley (Kildare), Jennifer Dunne (Dublin), Dayna Finn (Mayo), Erone Fitzpatrick (Laois), Amy Gavin Mangan (Offaly), Sinead Goldrick (Dublin), Rachel Kearns (Mayo), Grace Kelly (Mayo), Niamh Kelly (Mayo), Tanya Kennedy (Donegal), Orlagh Lally (Meath), Niamh Martin (Tipperary), Aisling McCarthy (Tipperary), Paris McCarthy (Kerry), Aine McDonagh (Galway), Niamh McLaughlin (Donegal), Aishling Moloney (Tipperary), Eilish O’Dowd (Leitrim), Orla O’Dwyer (Tipperary), Erika O’Shea (Cork), Sarah Rowe (Mayo), Vikki Wall (Meath).

WHO’S IN CHARGE?

Former Tipperary footballer Colin O’Riordan will be Ireland’s senior coach. He played 34 AFL games for the Sydney Swans before becoming the first Irish-born senior coach in AFL/AFLW history when he took over the Swans women's team ahead of the 2026 season.

Craig Starcevich, a two-time Brisbane AFLW coach, will be his number two while the coaching panel will include Kerry's Tadhg Kennelly, Leitrim’s Aine Tighe, who currently plays with Freemantle, and Geelong assistant coach Elise Coventry.

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