Australia secured a 50-point victory over Ireland in the inaugural international women's Australian rules match, held at a packed North Sydney Oval on Saturday. The historic game, which drew a sell-out crowd of 9,000, celebrated the significant contribution of Irish players to the AFLW, with 46 Irish players currently on AFLW lists and nine having earned All-Australian blazers.
A carnival atmosphere from start to finish
The event began with a dance party and ended with a chorus of "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi." Fans arrived in elaborate costumes, including one man in a full Geelong kit with a green cape and mask, and others carrying blow-up boxing kangaroos. The Irish contingent brought particular energy, with tricolour balaclavas and flags, dancing and chanting to a mix of didgeridoo and Irish folk music.
Twenty minutes before the first siren, families and friends spilled onto the ground in anticipation. When the Celtic women ran out to bursts of flames and smoke, with Dropkick Murphys' "Fields of Athenry" playing, the crowd erupted.
Irish diaspora and family connections
Among the spectators were Elaine and Patrick Fitzpatrick, who travelled from Ireland to watch their daughter, Carlton player Erone Fitzpatrick. "The atmosphere is unbelievable," Elaine said. "This is our fourth time over here, but it's the first time this has ever happened … It's amazing. And we're always made to feel so welcome."
The match also resonated with the broader Irish-Australian community. Census data shows more than 22,000 people in Greater Sydney were born in Ireland, and 401,000 have Irish ancestry. Lisa O'Neill, who migrated from Galway three years ago and played college Gaelic football with some of the Irish AFLW players, attended with her friend Patrick Kavenagh. "I really hope Ireland win, they're our best players," she said, wrapped in an Irish flag. Kavenagh, a regional Victorian, predicted Australia would win "by a landslide."
Team line-ups and on-field action
Ireland's team was led by Orla O'Dwyer, who has played 82 games for the Lions since debuting in 2020, and included Brisbane premiership star Jen Dunne, North Melbourne teammates Vikki Wall and Erika O'Shea, and Carlton's All-Australian winger Dayna Finn. Australia's squad featured two-time Kangaroos premiership teammates Ash Riddell and Jasmine Garner (captain), Adelaide's reigning league best and fairest Ebony Marinoff, and Melbourne captain Kate Hore.
Australia took an early lead and maintained it throughout, but Irish supporters continued to chant and sing with abandon. The home fans were more muted but appreciated the occasion.
A different type of sports crowd
Spectator Daniel Pascoe-Thomas, attending with his partner Jessa Smith who was in full Irish kit, noted the unique atmosphere. "I've been going to Henson Park, Blacktown, and just seeing it grow, seeing the turnout, it's amazing. It's a different type of crowd as well, which I love, there's nothing quite like it."
The match was a celebration of the longstanding ties between Gaelic football and Australian rules, with men having competed under hybrid rules since the 1980s, but never women until now. The event marked a significant step ahead of the AFLW's 11th season, which starts next week.
As the final siren sounded, "Down Under" blasted on the loudspeaker, and fans filtered out with Irish and Australian flags waving side by side, a testament to the cross-cultural connections forged through women's sport.
