Headache or opportunity? Ladies football powerless to halt AFLW exodus

Of the 14 women who played AFL last year, only three played inter-county football this summer

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: PwC GPA Player of the Month for July/August in ladies football, Niamh O’Sullivan of Meath, with her award at PwC’s offices in Dublin. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

In her Irish Examiner column to wrap up the 2022 season in March, Bríd Stack outlined how the big changes coming in the AFLW would impact on the future for Irish ambitions to play in the competition. With an expansion of the competition from 14 to 18 teams in a new format, and with the competition beginning earlier in the season, Stack detailed how big decisions would have to be made.

“Time will tell for the Irish interest going forward,” wrote Stack. “It’s going to be a massive headache for those currently playing and those that have aspirations to play AFLW. A pre-season starting in June would mean girls having to miss county and club commitments at home if they decide to commit, which is a massive decision to have to make.”