IRELAND'S squad has been finalised ahead of the historic NAB AFLW Australia v Ireland match at North Sydney Oval on Saturday, August 1.

The 25-player Ireland squad for the first professional international match of Australian Rules football is stacked with players who have taken the AFLW by storm across the competition's 10 seasons.

The first eight players in the Ireland line-up were announced earlier this week, which included dual Brisbane Lions premiership player Orla O'Dwyer, the first Irish player to earn AFLW All-Australian honours.

Fellow All-Australian representatives Dayna Finn, Niamh Kelly, Aisling McCarthy, Aine McDonagh and Aishling Moloney were also selected in the initial squad announcement, along with two-time North Melbourne premiership player Erika O'Shea and Collingwood trailblazer Sarah Rowe.

Among the additions to the Ireland squad are Gold Coast Suns co-captain Niamh McLaughlin, North Melbourne premiership teammates Blaithin Bogue and Vikki Wall, Brisbane Lions' All-Australian Jennifer Dunne and Melbourne premiership defender Sinead Goldrick.

In total, the Irish team features nine All-Australian representatives, five premiership players, three club best and fairest winners and a club captain.

The strong connection within the Ireland team will be bolstered by the inclusion of a sister pairing, with Grace Kelly set to line up alongside younger sibling and Adelaide Crows teammate Niamh.

Irish-born Sydney Swans AFLW senior coach Colin O'Riordan has been appointed head coach of Ireland.

O'Riordan played 34 AFL games for the Swans from 2016 to 2022, before becoming the first Irish-born senior coach in AFL/AFLW history.

Two-time Brisbane Lions AFLW premiership coach and three-time AFLCA AFLW Coach of the Year Craig Starcevich will serve as senior assistant coach.

Ireland's coaching panel will also feature Sydney Swans premiership defender and GWS Giants Academy coach Tadhg Kennelly, Fremantle forward Aine Tighe and Geelong assistant coach Elise Coventry.

Cora Staunton, who was the first Irish player recruited to the AFLW, has been appointed chair of selectors following a decorated cross-code career, which included 50 AFLW games for the GWS GIANTS.

Meanwhile, Collingwood Executive General Manager of Women's Football Jess Burger will lead football operations for Ireland.

Ireland coach Colin O'Riordan said:

"It's always a great honour to represent your country and it's extra special for this group to be the first to represent Ireland in an international game of Australian Rules football.

"From premiership players to All-Australians and club best and fairest winners, our players have already accomplished and contributed so much to the game, in addition to successful careers in other codes.

"We're confident we've selected a team that will match it with the best Australian players. We have incredible competitors throughout the squad who are determined to represent Ireland and the Tricolour with immense pride."

NAB AFLW Australia v Ireland will bring together some of the competition's biggest stars and emerging talent to celebrate the continued growth of women's football and the strong connection between AFLW and Ireland.

The match will be played under Australian Football rules, using a classic Sherrin football, and will mark the first AFLW representative fixture since the one-off contest between Victoria and the Allies in 2017.

Tickets for the 2026 NAB AFLW Australia v Ireland match are on sale from tomorrow, Wednesday, June 24 via Ticketmaster.

Club and AFL members will have access from 10am AEST, before the general public at 12pm AEST.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for youth (aged 15-17), $5 for children (14 and under), while a family of four can attend for $50.

The match will start at 4.15pm AEST on Saturday, August 1 and will be broadcast live nationally on Fox Footy, Kayo Sports, Kayo Freebies and Binge.

For more information, visit AUSVIRL.AFL.

Ireland squad

Blaithin Bogue
AFLW Club: North Melbourne
County: Fermanagh

Amy Boyle-Carr
AFLW Club: Adelaide Crows
County: Donegal

Kayleigh Cronin
AFLW Club: Adelaide Crows
County: Kerry

Neasa Dooley
AFLW Club: Brisbane Lions
County: Kildare

Jennifer Dunne
AFLW Club: Brisbane Lions
County: Dublin

Dayna Finn
AFLW Club: Carlton
County: Mayo

Erone Fitzpatrick
AFLW Club: Carlton
County: Laois

Amy Gavin Mangan
AFLW Club: North Melbourne
County: Offaly

Sinead Goldrick
AFLW Club: Melbourne
County: Dublin

Rachel Kearns
AFLW Club: Geelong Cats
County: Mayo

Grace Kelly
AFLW Club: Adelaide Crows
County: Mayo

Niamh Kelly
AFLW Club: Adelaide Crows
County: Mayo

Tanya Kennedy
AFLW Club: Sydney Swans
County: Donegal

Orlagh Lally
AFLW Club: Fremantle
County: Meath

Niamh Martin
AFLW Club: Hawthorn
County: Tipperary

Aisling McCarthy
AFLW Club: Fremantle
County: Tipperary

Paris McCarthy
AFLW Club: Sydney Swans
County: Kerry

Aine McDonagh
AFLW Club: Hawthorn
County: Galway

Niamh McLaughlin
AFLW Club: Gold Coast SUNS
County: Donegal

Aishling Moloney
AFLW Club: Geelong Cats
County: Tipperary

Eilish O'Dowd
AFLW Club: GWS GIANTS
County: Leitrim

Orla O'Dwyer
AFLW Club: Brisbane Lions
County: Tipperary

Erika O'Shea
AFLW Club: North Melbourne
County: Cork

Sarah Rowe
AFLW Club: Collingwood
County: Mayo

Vikki Wall
AFLW Club: North Melbourne
County: Meath