THE PICTURE SPOKE a thousand words.
A beaming Orla O’Dwyer celebrating Brisbane Lions’ first-ever Australian Football League Women’s [AFLW] Premiership title win after a simply sensational season. Silverware in hand, smiling from ear to ear; all the hard work had paid off.
She was a long way from Tipperary, but right at home on the biggest stage on the other side of the world. In this, her adopted sport — and third at the highest level possible.
The 22-year-old already has two All-Ireland intermediate football medals to her name, and has captained the Premier camogie side, and after her second season Down Under, she’s won the biggest prize possible there.
Not only that, but she’s had a glittering individual campaign. She was one of the best on the ground for Brisbane as they stunned Adelaide Crows 6.2 (38) to 3.2 (20) in this morning’s Grand Final.
O’Dwyer starred on the wing as 22,934 fans watched on at the Adelaide Oval, accounting for 16 disposals and six tackles, while setting up a stunning soccer-style Courtney Hodder goal with her wand of a left boot.
COURTNEY. HODDER.
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 17, 2021
How has she kicked this one?!#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/BOursproHm
Her GPS tracker must have been through the roof too, her remarkable athleticism shining through as she covered almost every blade of grass on the field en route to becoming just the second Irish player to win an AFLW Premiership.
The other was on the losing side this morning: Ailish Considine, champion and Grand Final goal-scorer in 2019. After a rollercoaster of a season between a scary concussion and a dog bite, the Clare woman battled back to make the Crows matchday squad — and produce an impressive performance at that, also named among the best on the ground with 11 disposals.
Both old college friends and team-mates from University of Limerick [UL], it was O’Dwyer celebrating at the final whistle, however, as she joined Considine in the history books.
She certainly put Tipperary in the AFLW ones too, and continued an incredible week for the county’s top sportswomen. Rachael Blackmore, from the nearby Killenaule, has been riding the crest of a wave of late and won the Grand National last weekend, while Dorothy Wall of Fethard produced a stunning performance in Ireland’s Six Nations win against Wales. She’s in action again against France in Donnybrook this afternoon, with another Tipp woman in Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe in line for her XVs debut off the bench. What a group of phenomenal athletes at the top of their respective games, all positive role models for those following in their footsteps.
O’Dwyer is an absolute all-rounder, it must be said. Given her exploits with the Tipperary and Boherlahan-Dualla footballers, and the county and Cashel camogie teams, she was backed to take the transition to AFLW in her stride from the off. After submitting a statement of interest to the CrossCoders programme, she attracted immediate interest from clubs. Off the back of just video footage and interviews, she was snapped up by Brisbane — and backed to succeed immediately.
“For a multi-talented athlete like Orla, I don’t think it’s going to be much of a stretch to pick up a third sport,” her agent Jason Hill told The42 in May 2019.
While settling in to her new life Down Under — she was actually born in Sydney — was by no means easy, she made it look so in her debut, scoring a beautiful Gaelic football-style goal with her first touch. Brisbane’s new #9 went on to impress through the season, always learning and growing as she laid solid foundations.
O’Dwyer has always been about hard work and perseverance, giving it 110%. That was evident from early doors, as her mother, Mary, told TG4 this week:
“People are surprised to hear that her sporting career didn’t start right out of the blocks. She was a slow starter.
“She liked running, she played soccer, she played basketball in school. She liked them all and was reasonably good at a lot of sports when she got over her initial slow start. I never thought she’d play [AFLW] I mean to be a PE Teacher was probably the closest she was going to get to a career in sport.”
Again, it was evident as she cut her inter-county commitments short last Autumn, heading for Brisbane and watching her camogie side in the All-Ireland quarter-final from a hotel room.
She outlined her intentions and lofty AFLW ambitions for season number two from the get-go, getting a full pre-season under her belt while the majority of the rest of the 14-strong Irish contingent had limited preparation time.
Seo liosta 'hellos' Orla O'Dwyer tar éis gur bhuaigh na Brisbane Lions an #AFLW ar maidin!
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) April 17, 2021
☑️ Mam & Dad
☑️ Siblings
☑️ Cousins
☑️ Friends
☑️ @TG4TV
Full deferred coverage of the
'Grand Final' and more from Orla's interview on AFL Aussie Rules na mBan at 17:10 pic.twitter.com/NtP16dNfg5
O’Dwyer’s decision, which she assured The42 was a hard, and bittersweet, one, certainly paid off as she was at her brilliant best all season. Named AFLW Ireland’s Player of the Year, she was instrumental for the Lions as they enjoyed a memorable run and made it third time lucky in the decider.
Their Irish import kicked goals week on week, racked up possessions, disposals and tackles and was one of Brisbane’s best, without a doubt.
“This season has been a bit of a fairytale for Orla who has come on leaps and bounds in her own game and now looks very at home in the sport and on the wing for Brisbane,” as Hill told The42 ahead of this morning’s Grand Final.
“The wing is one of the hardest positions to play in the game but she has taken to it like a duck to water for someone so unfamiliar with the sport.”
Far from unfamiliar she looked on the biggest stage, always one to step up on big occasions.
And an absolute fairytale ending it was indeed, for this phenomenal talent and incredible athlete, a long way from Tipperary.
Mcllroy is like pogba, brilliant when it doesn’t count but when he needs to be brilliant, crumbles.
@John Norton: yeah, 25 career wins, 4 majors, a real bottler.
@Bob Cummings: I’m talking about Major titles for the talent he has, not mickey mouse wins like Canada. No win since 2014 and hasn’t been in real contention for a win in a long time. He turn it on when out of the running
@John Norton: he won The Players, 3rd in the world, are you sure you’re getting this John?
@Bob Cummings: players isn’t a major ffs Bob
@John Norton: hasn’t been in real contention? He had the most runner up positions on last year’s tour.
@John Norton: Hard to disagree, good point.
@John Norton: Has won more majors and PGA wins than anyone on this Island and he’s just 30! Yeah you’re right. More begrudgery and wishing in misfortune of others on the comments page. God we love to knock in this country. Very sad to read.
@John Norton: nothing Mickey Mouse about a cheque for over a million dollars.
@John Norton: do people here not have a clue about golf. The obsession with Mcilroy so called under performing is mind boggling. Every top golfer in the world can shoot -5 to be followed the next day by +5. I think the begrudgers on here think it’s so easy to win a major yet the long time no.1 in DJ has just one.
Every single golfer in the world’s top 10 bar Koepka, has there for under achieved the last few years. Nobody is dominating golf but Mcilroy is by far the most consistent golfer on the pga tour by far.
@TheHospitalPass: I know, regarded by all as the 5th major.
@John Norton: pogba won a world cup. Few players can claim that
@Bob Cummings:
Better to ignore the Rory-haters.
@John Norton: How dare you insult my adopted country.
Well Done Shane Lowry, you did Ireland proud.
Koepka is on fire so far. Set up for a great final day. Pity its on so late, no way I’d be able for work in the morning if I watched til the end!
@Gareth Keenan: I’m sure Brent would leave you like in! Go have a few lagers with Finchy!
@Jeremiah A Craic: I did. We ended up in Chasers. Had a cider.
McIlroy…BOTTLER
@Desmond Cassidy: spot on.
@Desmond Cassidy: 3rd in the world, 4 majors……..
@Bob Cummings: Luke Donald was world no 1 and never won a major , golfing greats are judged on major wins.
@John Norton: and like he said…4 majors won
@John Norton:
Competition is at its highest now. There are new major winners every year. Not many golfers are gonna dominate the sport like Tiger and Jack and the likes.
@Nollaig Elliot:
True! 2019 Pebble Beach US Open 31 players under par, in 2000 just Tiger, and with his score of -12 he won by 15 shots. Rory McIlroy has done brilliantly with 4 majors so far, and he’s just 30. Jack Nicklaus won his final Major at 46 in 1986. In current very competitive world of golf, it’s highly unlikely that anybody will surpass Jack’s 18 Majors.
@Bob Cummings: in 10 years 4 majors …hmmm
@Rory J Leonard: ok..his lazt @46…at what age was his penultimate ? ;-)
@Desmond Cassidy: I’m sure Rory gives much thought to how you feel about him.
@Desmond Cassidy: you do know that top 10 players in the world have gone a lifetime with zero majors. Monty, Donald, Westwood spring to mind.
fantastic final putt! great way to win it!