Australia Hosts Historic First AFLW Match Against Ireland

Australia’s historic AFLW match against Ireland started with a dance party and ended with a chorus of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie”.

On a chilly Saturday afternoon, 9,000 footy fans packed out North Sydney Oval to witness the first international women’s Australian rules game, and there was a carnival-like mood in the air.

The event was a joyous acknowledgment of how Irish players have shaped women’s footy, and a testament to cross-cultural connections. Forty-six Irish players are on current AFLW lists, and nine have earned All-Australian blazers.

The move from Gaelic football to Australian rules is a natural one with longstanding ties. Since the 1980s, men have faced each other in matches under hybrid rules. But never the women, and the time was ripe ahead of the AFLW’s 11th season, which starts next week.

Spectators flocked to be a part of the momentous occasion with grand costumes and buckets of gusto. One man wandered the crowd in full Geelong kit, complimented by a green cape and matching mask. Others carried blow-up boxing kangaroos and decorated their hair in green and gold ribbons. There was more than one tricolour balaclava, in a homage to Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap.

Twenty minutes before the initial siren sounded, dozens of supporters made up of families and friends spilled onto the ground in anticipation of the teams emerging from the rooms. The Irish crew brought the energy, wrapped in massive flags and waving their arms in the air in delight, they danced and chanted and cheered to the backing of a live didgeridoo and Irish folk music.

When the Celtic women eventually ran onto the historic old oval to bursts of flames and smoke, Dropkick Murphys’ Fields of Athenry playing in the background, the crowd lost their minds.

Elaine and Patrick Fitzpatrick were among them, having made the journey all the way from Ireland to watch their daughter, Carlton player Erone Fitzpatrick, take to the field. They had custom-made Irish jerseys with her name on the back, which they were wearing with pride alongside her extended fan group.

“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.”

For many, this was a chance to connect with a significant diaspora of Irish Australians. The latest Census data shows more than 22,000 people living in Greater Sydney were born in Ireland, and 401,000 have Irish ancestry.

Lisa O’Neill travelled from Melbourne with her friend, Patrick Kavenagh, to get behind her home country. She migrated to Australia from Galway three years ago, and played college Gaelic football with some of the Irish AFLW players.

“I really hope Ireland win, they’re our best players,” O’Neill said, wrapped in an Irish flag. “Up Ireland!” But Kavenagh, a regional Victorian, predicted Australia would win “by a landslide”. “Either way, it’s such a historic event,” he said.

Kavenagh was on the money. Australia took an early lead and maintained it all the way, but Irish supporters weren’t deterred, continuing to chant and sing with abandon. The home fans were more muted, but it was hard to top their rivals’ enthusiasm.

Orla O’Dwyer, who has played 82 games for the Lions since debuting in 2020, led Ireland’s team, which included Brisbane premiership star Jen Dunne, North Melbourne teammates Vikki Wall and Erika O’Shea, who made the move to Australia before she turned 20, and Carlton’s All-Australian winger Dayna Finn.

Australia’s squad included two-time Kangaroos premiership teammates Ash Riddell and Jasmine Garner, who captained the side, Adelaide’s reigning league best and fairest Ebony Marinoff, and Melbourne captain Kate Hore.

As is often the case at women’s sport events, there was no sense of animosity amongst the crowd. This was a family friendly affair, and while it’s a cliche, the winner was the game itself.

Daniel Pascoe-Thomas said there was a “different type of crowd” at AFLW games. He was attending the match with his partner, Jessa Smith, who was decked out in a full Irish kit. Her nan was the first in her generation to migrate to Australia, and she was backing Ireland for her.

Pascoe-Thomas said he was “supporting footy”. “I’ve been more excited about this game than any other game,” he said.

“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.”

When the final siren sounded, with Australia 50 points ahead, Down Under blasted on the loudspeaker and Australians fell back on an old faithful: Cheers of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi.” The players shook hands and fans slowly filtered out into the night, Irish and Australian flags proudly waving side by side.