The Irish footprint in the AFLW is growing. A record-breaking 43 Irish women could potentially play Aussie Rules this season, continuing a trend that started when Mayo’s Cora Staunton made the move Down Under in 2018. Last year there were 39 Irish recruits, but that number of eligible players in the AFLW has now broken the 40 mark for the first time. Given the overall figure for players involved throughout the AFLW stands at around 540, which means the Irish contingent comprises 8 percent. The new recruits featured among the list of players involved in 2026, hail from 18 different counties in Ireland, with Mayo top of the list with 6. There has also been significant developments on the sidelines with former Tipperary footballer Colin O'Riordan being appointed senior coach of the Sydney Swans. O’Riordan was the Irish manager when an Irish Aussie Rules selection played an Australian team in Sydney recently. The Aussies had a comfortable win, using the Aussie Rules oval ball.
