Carla Rowe concerned with number of LGFA's top players playing in AFLW

Vikki Wall of the Kangaroos kicks the ball during the AFLW Grand Final match between North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos and Brisbane Lions last year. Pic: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

All-Ireland winning Dublin captain Carla Rowe has expressed concern about the number of Irish stars in the AFLW.

A whopping seven Irish women will be involved in tomorrow's Grand Final between holders North Melbourne and Brisbane.

Fermanagh's Blaithin Bogue, Cork's Erika O'Shea and Meath great Vikki Wall will all feature for North Melbourne at IKON Park.

Offaly's Amy Gavin Mangan has also been included by the Kangaroos on their emergency list for the third consecutive final between the clubs.

As for Brisbane, they've got Rowe's former Dublin colleague Jennifer Dunne, Tipperary's Orla O'Dwyer and Neasa Dooley from Kildare involved.

Ultra experienced Rowe said she had an opportunity in 2018 to pursue an AFLW contract but knocked it back.

In all, 39 Irish women were contracted to AFLW clubs this season with the 21-strong All-Australian Team comprising five Irish; Dunne, Bogue, Dayna Finn, Aine McDonagh and Niamh McLaughlin.

Speaking at the launch of The Irish Blood Transfusion Service's 'Every Drop Counts' campaign, Rowe said it's a big issue for the LGFA.

"The underlying thing for me is the worry, not just for Dublin but across the country, that the top players in the counties are being brought over to Australia," said Rowe. "Look at Mayo, the transition they've had to go through because of this is just huge."

Gaelic Players Association chief Tom Parsons recently described the drain of talent as a 'huge blow to Gaelic Games'. He said that making sure players aren't 'out of pocket' while playing here, and providing them with a decent government grant and minimum welfare standards, should improve the retention rate.

"I think the main thing is we need to make our sport have as little financial impact on players as possible," said Rowe. "Players are going over, obviously because the lifestyle in Australia is very attractive, and you say, 'Absolutely, I wish you the best' but there is also the financial impact of playing Gaelic football, especially for ladies in Ireland, that is a factor. You can see why they're going over and getting paid to play."

Six-time All-Ireland winner Rowe said she never particularly fancied the oval ball game.

She said of the 2018 offer: "For me, the timing was off. Was I ever going to play the sport? I don't think so. The sport isn't for me. And for where I was in my life, I was going back to college as well. I was starting my teaching job. It wasn't for me because of those things either."

Rowe recently claimed her fifth All-Star award though said it isn't definite that she'll be back for 2026. The Dubs have already lost Hannah Tyrrell and Nicole Owens to retirement.

"Club season only finished two weeks ago," said the 30-year-old. "I'm taking a bit of time just to...I have a bit of reflection on the year to do and see how next year is looking. For now, it's definitely not a no. It's not 100 percent yes, but it's closer to yes than it is no."