AFLW and GAA close in on maiden International Rules clash
The GAA and AFLW are moving closer to finalising an agreement that would see an inaugural women's International Rules game take place between Ireland and Australia this summer.
It is understood that at least one fixture will take place on Australian shore, with a date likely in either June or July.
Talks between both organisations are ongoing, with the historic game likely to come within the AFLW pre-season, with players reporting back for training the last week before the season begins the week commencing 10 August.
There were 39 Irish women active in the AFLW last season, while earlier this month, Kerry's Emma Dineen and Mayo's Saoirse Lally were picked up by Essendon and St Kilda respectively in the pre-season draft.
Jennifer Dunne, Dayna Finn, Aine McDonagh, Bláithín Bogue and Niamh McLaughlin all featured in last season’s All-Australian team.
The prevalence of Irish players means it is expected that the match will be played under Australian Rules and with an oval ball, as opposed to previous men's iterations of International Rules which have been played with a round ball under Gaelic rules.
It would mark a first international between the countries in nearly a decade, with Australia winning on both occasions in the men’s two-match series in 2017.
Meanwhile, former Galway footballer and Hawthorn star Aine McDonagh has been forced to leave Australia just a week into the club's pre-season campaign due to a visa issue.
Aine McDonagh has been a key player for Hawthorn since joining the AFLW club in 2022
McDonagh, born in New York and raised in Moycullen, had to travel to New York last week according to AFL.com as Hawthorn worked through the reapplication process for her Australian visa.
The club say they are hopeful the star forward will be able to return shortly after receiving approval for her latest visa application in recent days.
"This application is now approved," a Hawthorn spokesperson told the Australian outlet.
"She is currently in the United States with her family and we expect her to be back with the club undertaking her pre-season in Australia shortly."
