AISLING MCCARTHY has made a switch to Fremantle Dockers from West Coast Eagles in the AFLW.
The Tipperary star was part of a trade between the clubs, with Roxy Roux going the other way as well as a higher Draft pick.
McCarthy moves Fremantle clear as the side with the most Irish players, with Áine Tighe (Leitrim), Orlagh Lally (Meath), Amy Mulholland (Armagh) and Joanne Cregg (Roscommon) all representing the Dockers in 2023.
The 27-year-old midfielder/forward has enjoyed a colourful AFLW career thus far, playing 43 games across six seasons. Her last four campaigns were at West Coast, where she established herself as a real leader, having previously played for Western Bulldogs.
Indeed, that 2020 switch saw her become the first Irishwoman — and first non-Australian — to move AFLW clubs.
“For people back home, it is very alien to transfer teams,” McCarthy told The 42 at the time. “It’s completely different, it’s not something that you do in Gaelic football at all.
“You play with your club you grew up with all your life and if you get the opportunity to play for your county, that’s who you play for until you retire. It happens in other sports like soccer and rugby, but with my Gaelic football roots, it’s a little bit different.”
New chapter 💜⚓️ Excited to get to work @freodockersAFLW 👊🏻
— Aisling McCarthy (@aish_mac) December 8, 2023
Thank you to @eaglesaflw for an incredible 4 years, grateful for everyone at the club and all my teammates 💙 https://t.co/8Jky7maIY4
Now, the two-time All-Ireland intermediate winner is set for a new chapter and again etches her name into history as the first Irishwoman to play at three AFLW clubs.
“We’re really excited about bringing Aish into the Club,” Freo AFLW Football Operations Manager Darryn Fry said.
“She’s been a player of interest over a period of time and we’ve watched her really closely.
She’s a powerful player who is very versatile in her role. She’s played inside mid, has the capacity to play forward and kick goals and we believe she will be a real asset to our group.
“Aish is also well connected with our existing Irish players, so we feel coming into the Freo family will be really seamless for her.”
It could be a busy few days for Irish players Down Under with the AFLW Trade Period opening yesterday and closing next Thursday, 14 December.
A record 33 players from these shores lined out in the 2023 competition, with Orla O’Dwyer (Tipperary) and Jennifer Dunne (Dublin) reigning supreme with Brisbane Lions.
I wouldn’t bet on him playing for Real next season just yet .
@Limón Madrugada: I agree, defiantly not in the league games unless he really seems to prosper. Vinicius I feel was played too often and too fast this season too. He needs to work on his finishing
If I was going to start playing for Real Madrid I’d probably be vomiting too. Despicable club with the most ungrateful supporters.
@Vinny O’Shaughnessy: this statement is completely false. Every club has a small number of toxic supporters but that’s just football. Compared to other teams we aren’t too bad. Look at serie-A fans calling black players monkeys and so on. Yes some fans fail to show respect to club legends but that’s a common trait in Spain. Barcelona fans, Atletico fans etc are the same
@Claire Con: all well and good to point the finger but Real Madrid fans have also racially abused black opposition player, Dembele got it in El Clásico in February. But we both know that the commenter was referring to the amount of abuse and booing Real fans give their own players at the earliest sign of any problem.
@Dave O Keeffe: just not true.
@Claire Con: in fairness he said ungrateful fans
@Vinny O’Shaughnessy: cheap shot. Jealousy no doubt. What’s your club won this decade so far???
@Dave O Keeffe: and like I said, unfortunately fans like that exist everywhere. In fairness it isn’t as regular of an occurrence like in Italy (thank God) but unfortunately Spanish fans tend to be aggressive.
@Kieran Fogarty: in fairness he called the club despicable. Not the most accurate comment when you compare the club to others.
@Claire Con: Mbappe
@Limón Madrugada: several sources, including Dembele himself.
@Claire Con: except you specifically singled out serie A fans for racism as a defense of Madrid fans. In no way am I saying it’s just Madrid. It’s pretty prevalent in Spain.
@Dave O Keeffe: I wasn’t necessarily singling our anyone. I simply mean that this isn’t an irregular occurrence in serie A games. Literally something happens every game.