Back
Sports

AFLW International Representative Match: Australia and Ireland Announce 25-Player Squads

Generated on: Last updated: 3 sources
View source

International AFLW Representative Match: Australia vs Ireland

North Sydney Oval | August 1, 2026 | 4:15 PM AEST

The AFL has announced the 25-player squads for both Australia and Ireland ahead of the first AFLW representative fixture since the Victoria-Allies contest in 2017.

This will be the first AFLW representative match in nearly a decade, featuring a "home" Australian squad and a touring Irish team.

Event Details

  • Date & Time: August 1, 2026, 4:15 PM AEST
  • Venue: North Sydney Oval
  • Rules: Australian rules football, standard Sherrin ball
  • Broadcast: Live on Fox Footy, Kayo Sports, Kayo Freebies, and Binge

Tickets went on sale Wednesday. Prices are Adult $25, Youth (15-17) $15, Child (14 & under) $5, and Family of four $50.

Discussions are underway regarding a potential move to the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) depending on ticket sales.

Australia Squad

Coach Darren Crocker (North Melbourne) has selected 25 players from 13 of the 18 AFLW clubs.

North Melbourne leads all clubs with five selections, including the competition’s 2025 best-and-fairest winner, Ash Riddell.

Full Australian Squad

Player Club Chelsea Biddell Adelaide Crows Libby Birch North Melbourne Maeve Chaplin TBC Monique Conti Richmond Sophie Conway Brisbane Lions Harriet Cordner TBC Zippy Fish TBC Jasmine Garner North Melbourne Maddison Gay TBC Tahlia Gillard TBC Tyla Hanks Melbourne Courtney Hodder Brisbane Lions Kate Hore Melbourne Emma Kearney North Melbourne Ebony Marinoff Adelaide Crows Ellie McKenzie Richmond Chloe Molloy Sydney Swans Georgie Prespakis Essendon Tahlia Randall North Melbourne Ash Riddell North Melbourne Ella Roberts West Coast Eagles Matilda Scholz Port Adelaide Tyanna Smith St Kilda Mim Strom Fremantle Charlie Thomas TBC

Ireland Squad

Coach Colin O'Riordan (Sydney Swans) has selected 25 players including nine All-Australians and three club best-and-fairest winners.

All selected players will take the field, with 16 on the field and nine on an extended interchange bench (increased from the standard five).

Players were ineligible if they had not played an AFLW game, excluding the most recent intake of Irish players.

Notable Inclusions & Omissions

  • New Selections: Premiership players Vikki Wall, Blaithin Bogue, Jen Dunne, and Sinead Goldrick are among the new additions.
  • Club Representation: Includes Gold Coast co-captain Niamh McLaughlin, GWS tall Eilish O’Dowd, sisters Niamh and Grace Kelly, and Carlton pair Dayna Finn and Erone Fitzpatrick.
  • Omissions: Gold Coast defender Clara Fitzpatrick and Geelong runner Kate Kenny were not selected. Sydney Swan Julie O'Sullivan was reportedly unavailable due to an ACL injury.

Full Ireland Squad

Player AFLW Club County Blaithin Bogue North Melbourne Fermanagh Amy Boyle-Carr Adelaide Donegal Kayleigh Cronin Adelaide Kerry Neasa Dooley Brisbane Kildare Jen Dunne Brisbane Dublin Dayna Finn Carlton Mayo Erone Fitzpatrick Carlton Laois Amy Gavin Mangan North Melbourne Offaly Sinead Goldrick Melbourne Dublin Rachel Kearns Geelong Mayo Grace Kelly Adelaide Mayo Niamh Kelly Adelaide Mayo Tanya Kennedy Sydney Donegal Orlagh Lally Fremantle Meath Niamh Martin Hawthorn Tipperary Aisling McCarthy Fremantle Tipperary Paris McCarthy Sydney Kerry Aine McDonagh Hawthorn Galway Niamh McLaughlin Gold Coast Donegal Aishling Moloney Geelong Tipperary Eilish O'Dowd GWS Leitrim Orla O'Dwyer Brisbane Tipperary Erika O'Shea North Melbourne Cork Sarah Rowe Collingwood Mayo Vikki Wall North Melbourne Meath

Ireland Support Staff

  • Coach: Colin O'Riordan (Sydney Swans)
  • Assistants: Craig Starcevich (Brisbane Lions), Tadhg Kennelly (GWS Academy), Áine Tighe (Fremantle), Elise Coventry (Geelong)
  • Chair of Selectors: Cora Staunton
  • Football Operations: Jess Burger (Collingwood)