The AFL women's season is finally earning some stability in the Australian sporting calendar and the flow of Irish talent into the league has never carried such force.
Now in its ninth season, the competition has moved from its March/April finishing spot in earlier seasons to the current late November/early December conclusion, paving the way for a record 33 Irish players to compete in 2024.
With most of those coming from inter-county GAA backgrounds, the dual player is currently alive and well, but it undoubtedly feels like a conflict is on the way with a full-time professional league a key aspiration of the AFLW.
Eighteen teams will compete – the arrival of the Tasmanian Devils is to be confirmed with their male team to join the AFL in 2028 – and there will be a record five female coaches with new additions Tamara Hyett (Western Bulldogs) and Daisy Pearce (West Coast Eagle) boosting that total, the latter often regarded as the face of the league.
Opening day on Friday will see Sydney Swans host Collingwood (10.15am Irish time), with a number of Irish players set to feature, before West Coast Eagles and Richmond, two sides without Irish representation, meet.
For that first clash, Donegal’s Tanya Kennedy is in her second season with the Swans and will start at centre while Kerry pair Paris McCarthy, who played Division 1 basketball for East Tennessee State University on a full scholarship in 2022, and Julie O’Sullivan are not involved.
Monaghan’s Muireann Atkinson, for what will be her AFLW debut, and Mayo’s Sarah Rowe start for the Magpies, while Cavan’s Aishling Sheridan has been added to the inactive list as she will stay in Ireland.
With a quintet of Irish players on board, Fremantle should have plenty of support from these isles.
Aisling McCarthy (Tipperary), Aine Tighe (Leitrim) Orlagh Lally (Meath), Amy Mulholland (Armagh) and Joanne Cregg (Roscommon) are all part of their squad.
McCarthy, who has made the switch from West Coast, makes her Dockers' debut in midfield while Tighe also starts. The other three are named as interchange players for the clash with Essendon on Saturday.
While Fremantle hold the title of most Irish players on board, Mayo can claim the biggest county contingent with half a dozen players in the league this season.
As well as Rowe, Niamh Kelly (Adelaide Crows), Dayna Finn (Carlton), Rachel Kearns (Geelong Cats), Aileen Gilroy (Hawthorn) and Grace Kelly (St Kilda) are signed on for another season.
Tipperary are next with five, including Orla O'Dwyer who helped Brisbane to a Grand Final win over North Melbourne last season. Dublin's Jennifer Dunne is also back with the champions.
Seventeen Irish counties are involved in all with players such as Armagh's Lauren McConville (Gold Coast) and Fermanagh's Blaithín Bogue (North Melbourne) set for their first taste of AFLW action, although neither are named to be involved in the first round.
As well as Sheridan, Armagh and North Melbourne’s Aimee Mackin and Laois and Carlton’s Erone Fitzpatrick (both ACLs) are on the inactive list.
The season is due to finish on 30 November after an 11-game home and away ladder contest followed by a four-week finals series.
Adelaide: Niamh Kelly (Mayo), Amy Boyle Carr (Donegal)
Brisbane: Orla O'Dwyer (Tipperary), Jennifer Dunne (Dublin)
Carlton: Dayna Finn (Mayo)
Collingwood: Sarah Rowe (Mayo), Muireann Atkinson (Monaghan)
Fremantle: Aisling McCarthy (Tipperary), Amy Mulholland (Armagh), Orla Lally (Meath), Áine Tighe (Leitrim), Joanne Cregg (Roscommon)
Geelong: Rachel Kearns (Mayo), Anna Rose Kennedy (Tipperary), Aishling Moloney (Tipperary), Kate Kenny (Offaly)
Gold Coast: Niamh McLaughlin (Donegal), Lauren McConville (Armagh), Clara Fitzpatrick (Down), Cara McCrossan (Tyrone)
Greater Western Sydney: Eilish O’Dowd (Leitrim)
Hawthorn: Aileen Gilroy (Mayo), Áine McDonagh (Galway)
Melbourne: Blaithin Mackin (Armagh), Sinéad Goldrick (Dublin)
North Melbourne: Niamh Martin (Tipperary), Vikki Wall (Meath), Erike O’Shea (Cork), Blaithín Bogue (Fermanagh)
St Kilda: Grace Kelly (Mayo)
Sydney: Tanya Kennedy (Donegal), Paris McCarthy (Kerry), Julie O’Sullivan (Kerry)
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