Cork All-Ireland winner declares for AFLW draft, Rowe returns to soccer

ON THE MOVE? Cork's All-Ireland-winning camogie star Hannah Looney. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Several Irish players have declared for the 2024 AFLW Draft, including Cork camogie All-Ireland winner Hannah Looney and 2023 Dublin All-Ireland winner Faye O’Connell Bell.

The first ever fully national draft takes place next Monday in Melbourne. A long list of Irish players have nominated for the draft as part of a move to make it onto a list for the 2025 season.

Several stars Down Under have joined the AFLW via this route including Aisling McCarthy, Amy Mullholland and Joanne Cregg.

Looney, who won back-to-back All-Ireland titles with Cork in 2023 and 2024, has been linked with a move to Australia for several years now. 

O’Connell Bell was part of the Dublin football squad that won an All-Ireland title in 2023, lining out at half-back in their Leinster final triumph over Meath.

Other possible draft picks include Westmeath’s Anna Jones, Leitrim IFC All-Ireland winner Elise Bruen and Louth’s Aoife Russell, who reached an All-Ireland junior championship final last August.

Even if they are not selected next week, declaring for the draft ensures Irish players can join the league through other means. 

There will be a supplementary signing period in February where clubs can pick up players who nominated for the draft but were not selected.

Elsewhere, Sarah Rowe has signed a short-term contract with Australian soccer club Central Coast Mariners. 

The Mayo native has played AFLW for Collingwood since 2018 but has a history of playing soccer during her off-season. She represented Shelbourne in 2021, Melbourne Victory in 2022/23 and Bohemians during the same window.

Rowe was called into the Republic of Ireland training camp before the 2023 World Cup and placed on a standby list for the tournament. She previously played for Ireland underage.

“It is fantastic to have someone of Sarah’s experience both on and off the field and I think it will really help push the team forward this season,” said Central Coast Mariners Ninja A-League Head Coach Emily Husband.

Rowe said the manager was a significant reason for her signing.

“I’m so excited to be here on the Central Coast and to be joining the Mariners. Speaking to Emily, she is a major reason why I decided that the Mariners is the right place for me. Doing a lot of research on her before coming here, I love the way that she sets up the team to play and her style of coaching.

“It was also really appealing to me that the Central Coast are quite a new team with some exciting young players, I want to come in and try and add something to this team and club and bring some further experience.

“I can’t wait to set foot out on this pitch and play in front of our fans. I have missed playing football, I can’t wait to put on the Yellow and Navy and play again.”