Erika O'Shea: AFLW tipping point will eventually arrive

Cork AFLW player Erika O’Shea knows that there will be a time when playing two codes will not be feasible, but for now she is just enjoying the ability to represent both the Rebels and North Melbourne.

The affable O’Shea was laid back when it was put to her that with 32 GAA players now competing in the women’s game in Australia, it may become a bone of contention in the future.

"At the moment, they [the AFLW] are fighting for a longer season. A longer season will eventually turn into a full-time sport. That's something AFL players know but nobody knows when. It could be six years from now, it could be 10," O'Shea said at SuperValu's launch of the All-Ireland championships.

"I'm just taking every year as it comes. I want to do both sports that I love. Right now, I'm able to so I'll do that for as long as possible. When a time comes [to make a decision], I'll have to make one."

The flexibility currently extended to O’Shea does not come just from the Cork squad, which she re-joined on her return to Ireland in January, but also the North Melbourne club itself.

"I was actually very lucky with North Melbourne. They're a very accommodating team.

"Me and Vicki Wall discussed with the team that we would like to play football when we go home. They said they're happy for us to be dual athletes for as long as possible. They're very supportive of us. We said we were really grateful to be able to do what we love."

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Having picked up an All-Star in 2021 at just 19 years of age, O’Shea was always