'Everyone seems so happy for me': Aoife Healy to make AFLW debut for Fremantle

TEARS OF JOY: Aoife Healy the moment she found out she will make her AFLW for Fremantle this weekend. Pic: Fremantle.

Aoife Healy may have missed out on helping Cork reclaim the All-Ireland camogie title last weekend but her decision to seek a different challenge Down Under is set to pay off.

The former Rebels dual star officially joined Fremantle back in December on a two-year deal ahead of the start of the 2026 season.

The former Aghada and Cloyne/St Colmans star, who won All-Ireland camogie titles with Cork in 2023 and 2024, was given the opportunity to learn her new craft during a three-month pre-season campaign.

And now the 22-year-old will be given the opportunity to showcase her ability in a competitive match as she will make her AFLW debut in Fremantle’s Round 1 season opener against Port Adelaide on Sunday.

“It's been crazy. It's been such a move, and it's obviously so, so different to home,” she told the club’s official website.

Aoife Healy's debut moment 🥹#foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/dpSmhpuFIx

— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) August 11, 2026

“I just think it’s been great finding people over here that make me feel comfortable, and the club has been so good in just finding space where I can just be myself.

"It’s just really nice, and I just feel so at home and so comfortable here."

Healy found out she would be making her debut at an all of club staff meeting where CEO Simon Garlick made the announcement in front of more than a hundred people, much to her surprise.

The fixture is also significant for the club as they will run out onto their new home ground, Cockburn ARC Oval, for the first time to play for premiership points against Port Adelaide.

“It was crazy. I really did not know what to expect when he was speaking but I was really delighted. Everyone seems so happy for me which is really lovely,” she added.

"I’ve been living with Gabby (O’Sullivan) since I moved over, and Klaus (the cat), of course.

“The three of us live over here now together and she's been really great. Gabby’s also been at Fremantle since the first season, so she's a really good person to live with because she knows the ins and outs of the club and the AFLW, so she's been great.

“I'm expecting a lot of excitement and hopefully loads of Freo fans. But I'm just really excited to run out with the girls.”

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