Christy O'Connor: Player drain to the AFLW an issue not going away anytime soon for the LGFA 

This year will see the highest number of Irish girls playing in the AFLW, 39, five up from last year’s figure of 34.

AFLW AN ISSUE NOT GOING AWAY: Kerry's Kayleigh Cronin is one of 39 Irish players in the AFLW. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

When it emerged last December that Kerry’s Kayleigh Cronin – player of the match in last year’s All-Ireland ladies final – had signed for Adelaide Crows in the AFLW, there were fears that Cronin’s loss could leave Kerry vulnerable in the 2025 championship.

Nobody in Kerry was prepared to look that far ahead at the time because nobody knew what might happen next. Plenty of players who had signed for AFLW clubs played with their county in the championship before departing for Australia, but the matter was going to be complicated this year with the AFLW beginning a fortnight earlier, kicking off next weekend.