AFLW final is set to produce Irish winner

THERE will be an Irish champion in women’s Aussie Rules with the final pairing now settled ahead of next week’s big finale.

With Orla O’Dwyer, the Tipperary star, on course to win a second AFLW crown in three seasons having been a pivotal part of the Brisbane Lions’ semi-final triumph on Friday, yesterday’s second semifinal saw Melbourne win through to next Sunday’s decider.

And their effort will feature Sinéad Goldrick of Dublin and Armagh’s Bláithín Mackin, both of whom were part of Melbourne’s derby win over North Melbourne.

Melbourne lost the grand final last season but earned their return to that stage with a 33-16 win.

An impressive crowd of 5,592 attended the Melbourne clash, another indicator of the growing popularity of the women’s game.

Goldrick played in last year’s final and was prominent for the victors again. This is Mackin’s first season but she was also heavily involved in a dominant display.

Vicki Wall, the form player in women’s football here this year, put in a valiant display for North Melbourne, but they were unable to convert plenty of ball into scores and paid the price. Melbourne’s greater efficiency was the big difference between the teams.

However, they will face an imposing Brisbane challenge in which the brilliant O’Dwyer is central. This is the club’s fourth grand final in seven years, and O’Dwyer’s parents and other members of her family were in attendance yesterday to watch her put in another huge stint.

She has become one of the stars of the women’s game in Australia, and she should be considered among other Irish athletes performing at a high level internationally.

Brisbane also have the advantage of next week’s final being played in their new 8,000-capacity training facility. However, the decision to host the game there, more prestigious venues unavailable, has come in for criticism. It is unlikely to deter O’Dwyer and her teammates in their quest for fresh glory.

In 2021, she became the second Irishwomen to win an AFLW grand final. The first was Ailish Considine of Clare, who has won two with the Adelaide Crows, in 2019 and 2022.