Orla O'Dwyer: Professional opportunity is every player's dream

Since her move to Brisbane in 2019, Tipperary's Orla O'Dwyer has been one of the most successful Irish imports into the AFLW.

The former Tipperary dual star has been a crucial part of the Brisbane Lions midfield, leading them to a Premiership in 2021, before becoming the Irish women to win an All-Australian in 2022.

While O'Dwyer had another fantastic season in 2022, scoring two goals, making three assists and putting in an incredible 48 tackles,  her Brisbane side fell short in the Grand Final to a Melbourne side containing Dublin's Sinead Goldrick and Armagh's Blaithain Mackin.

As the 24-year-old enjoys some time to rest ahead of the new season in August, O'Dwyer looked back on the moment she decided to make the move to Australia, with Cora Staunton's success a big motive.

"The AFLW is pretty new, there has only been seven seasons it started in 2017, so there wasn't really much visions or matches to watch. Cora Staunton was the first one over, and then you had the likes of Aisling McCarthy, who I played with at Tipperary, and Sarah Rowe and Ailish Considine.

"I always remember there was a documentary that Cora made that was shown back home that showed her first season with GWS. I remember watching it and I was fascinated by the facilities, by the team, by living in Australia, by the weather, and how she adapted to it.

"It probably came sooner than I expected in 2019. I was seeing little clips of how the other Irish girls were doing, and they were all getting games, which was huge, and they were doing well for all their clubs.

"Lucky enough a few clubs came back, and Brisbane liked what they saw, and I liked the idea of them. I knew if I did get the opportunity I would grab it with two hands and give it a go."

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