SENIOR representatives from the AFL have travelled to Ireland this week to meet with leaders of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in a positive step towards a return of International Rules series for the first time since 2017.
AFL chief operating officer Tom Harley, executive general manager of football Greg Swann and general manager operations Tristan Salter flew to Dublin to see GAA president Jarlath Burns, director general Tom Ryan and director of player, club and games administration Feargal McGill.
With the first ever AFLW game between Australia and Ireland held in August, there has been a renewed push for International Rules to be revived as soon as next year, following the return of Origin at the start of 2026.
A key focus of the meeting at Croke Park on Tuesday was a proposed set of AFL-GAA protocols governing the recruitment of Irish players, greater transparency between the two leagues and centralisation of information.
The discussion also covered how AFL clubs identify talent and safeguards around recruitment, with recruiters increasing their focus on Ireland again following the coronavirus pandemic.
St Kilda signed one of the most talented teenagers in the GAA in Kobe McDonald last year as a Category B rookie when he was 17, before the Gaelic Football prodigy helped County Mayo break a curse in July when he played a key role in its first All-Ireland title in 75 years.
Oisin Mullin has become a crucial player for Geelong across the past few years after the Cats plucked him from County Mayo in 2022 after twice being named GAA young footballer of the year.
With more Irishmen set to join the AFL in 2027, the GAA wants more support for Irish players returning home for Gaelic Football commitments and discussed a potential contribution model recognising the role Irish clubs and counties have had when a player enjoys a long-term career in Australia like Conor Nash, Mark O'Connor or Conor McKenna, who is close to signing an extension with Brisbane after winning a second premiership in September.
"It was an extremely valuable and constructive meeting and reinforced just how strong the relationship is between the AFL and the GAA," Harley told AFL.com.au from Dublin on Thursday.
"We have enormous respect for the GAA and it was important for us to sit down together in person, understand each other's perspectives and work through the opportunities and challenges in a really open way.
"There is a genuine desire on both sides to continue strengthening the relationship, particularly around supporting Irish players pursuing opportunities in Australia, and we're excited about what further collaboration between our two organisations could look like."
Harley, Swann and Salter also met with Ladies Gaelic Football Association CEO Lynn Savage this week to discuss future AFLW Internationals between the two countries and how the two organisations can work together.
One proposal for future AFLW Internationals includes changing balls each quarter from a Sherrin to an O’Neills Gaelic ball across a game.
The inaugural representative game was a roaring success at Henson Park a few months ago and is expected to feature again in 2027.
Next year will mark 10 years since the last International Rules Series was held, but after attempts to revive the concept in 2020 and 2022 didn't materialise, progress has been made on a return in 2027 after encouraging discussions this week.