Heavy Irish footprint as AFLW season seven begins

The new AFLW season began on Thursday morning with a win for Aishling Sheridan and Collingwood over Carlton as the Irish contingent gets set to have a massive influence on the seventh version of the competition.

It's an exciting period for the sport with a women’s team from all 18 AFL clubs included for the first time with Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney set to be involved while the earlier start for the season is being viewed as a chance to stage a series of double-headers as the men’s season heads towards its conclusion.

Ireland’s mark on season seven is set to be heavy with 22 players featuring across 12 different teams.

Laura Corrigan Duryea was the first Irish player to feature in the league, the former Cavan player making her debut for Melbourne in February 2017 with former Tipperary camogie player Megan Ryan becoming the latest Irish player to sign up having been recruited by Essendon earlier this week.

Cavan’s Sheridan had the honour of being the first Irish player to take part in the new season with Mayo’s Sarah Rowe missing out through suspension.

The Magpies were 36-18 winners over Carlton at Ikon Park in front of over 4,000 fans. Sheridan, now in her fourth season with the Pies, was solid with 14 disposals, eight kicks and five tackles.

Here are the 22 Irish players signed up the new season:

Adelaide Crows

Ailish Considine (Clare)

Niamh Kelly (Mayo)

Brisbane Lions

Orla O’Dwyer (Tipperary)

Collingwood

Sarah Rowe (Mayo)

Aishling Sheridan (Cavan)

Essendon

Joanne Doonan (Fermanagh)

Megan Ryan (Tipperary)

Fremantle

Orlagh Lally (Meath)

Áine Tighe (Leitrim)

Amy Mulholland (Armagh)

Geelong

Rachel Kearns (Mayo)

GWS Giants

Cora Staunton (Mayo)

Bríd Stack (Cork)

Hawthorn

Aileen Gilroy (Mayo)

Áine McDonagh (Galway)

Melbourne

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