Staunton Rules with AFL Giants
GAA legend Cora Staunton has made history by becoming the first international player to join Australia’s flourishing AFLW (women’s Australian rules league). Staunton, 34, has signed professional terms for The Greater Western Sydney Giants after being put through her paces Down Under by GWS head coach Alan Mcconnell and men’s assistant coach Nick Walsh who hails from Cavan. Staunton, 34, is a 10-time All-star, four-time All-ireland winner, and has also won three Ladies Football League titles and an FAI women’s cup title. In addition, she has played rugby union in the Connacht Women’s League. “It will be a huge challenge but us Irish love a challenge,” said Carnacon star Staunton. “I’ve never played AFL before and had my first practice at it with Alan and Nick this morning. “Getting used to the ball will be the biggest thing, along with the rules of the game.” GWS persuaded Staunton to try Australian Rules football after meeting her at the Asian GAA games in Shanghai last year. “Cora Staunton is probably the surprise package of the selections in the draft,” Mcconnell explained. “Cora comes from an elite background in football in Ireland. She recently played in the All Ireland final at Croke Park in front of 46,000 people on the back end of that competition, unfortunately losing. She’s a goalkicking forward so we’re looking for her to bring some goalkicking power to our team as a deep forward.”