Thirteen Irish players took to the pitch down under as the latest round of the AFLW took place.
After suffering a 97-1 defeat to the Adelaide Crows on Sept. 25th—the biggest defeat in AFLW history—the Greater Western Sydney Giants were at last helped to victory by for Mayo star Cora Staunton, who made two goals and a behind in the 29-12 win over Carlton.
Former Cork footballer Erika O'Shea helped the North Melbourne Kangaroos to their largest ever AFLW win this Sunday, when she had eight disposals and three tackles in the 67-1 game against the Sydney Swans. Her teammate Meath star Vikki Wall had a behind, ten disposals, and five tackles.
The Hawthorn Hawks also appear to be on the rise in their inaugural season. They added a second win to their first ever victory last weekend when they narrowly won 44-41 against the West Coast Eagles this Friday. Galway's Aine McDonagh scored a goal and Mayo's Aileen Gilroy contributed two behinds, fifteen disposals, and ten tackles. Aisling McCarthy of Tipperary helped make it a close-fought battle when she made fourteen disposals, eleven kicks, and five tackles for the Eagles.
Many Irish players shone in Melbourne's 66-36 of the Fremantle Dockers. For the winners Armagh's Blaithin Mackin made nine disposals and a behind, and Dublin's Sinead Goldrick had ten disposals. Aine Tighe of Leitrim made a goal for the Dockers, also supported by Meath star Orlagh Lally.
Tipperary's Orla O'Dwyer helped the Brisbane Lions to victory with eleven disposals and two tackles on Sunday in the Lions' 62-18 defeat of the Essendon Bombers. On the opposing side were Tipperary's Megan Ryan, contributing two disposals and a tackle, and Fermanagh's Joanne Doonan with a goal and six disposals.
Mayo's Sarah Rowe scored a goal, helping Collingwood eke out a 36-34 win over St Kilda.
