Tipperary star footballer Aisling McCarthy is set to make her Australian Football League Women's (AFLW) debut this weekend for the Western Bulldogs in their Round 2 clash with the Geelong Cats.
McCarthy was named as an emergency player for the Bulldogs' opening round win over the Adelaide Crows last weekend, but has been drafted in this week.
The Cahir club woman will take her place on the interchange bench, but with no limit on the number of rotations allowed in AFLW games, McCarthy is almost certain to see some game time on Saturday at the VU Whitten Oval.
"McCarthy has impressed on the training track with her power, speed and ball-handling ability, and travelled with the squad for the game in Adelaide last weekend," said the Western Bulldogs website.
One change for Saturday's first home game... #AFLWDogsCats
— WesternBulldogs AFLW (@BulldogsW) February 7, 2019
and it's a debutant! 🍀😊
➡ https://t.co/i8uSP3xsH5 pic.twitter.com/J65ST42OCe
The Bulldogs will be coming up against a Geelong side who edged out Collingwood by just one point in the first round.
Cora Staunton and Yvonne Bonner were both on target for the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants in their first-round outing last weekend. Staunton kicked a brace of goals while Donegal's Bonner split the posts once in a narrow defeat to the Brisbane Lions.
Elsewhere, Clare's AiliIsh Considine and Mayo's Sarah Rowe both made their debuts, for the Crows and Collingwood respectively.
All four players have been named to start again for their sides in Round 2 of the AFLW season.
McCarthy, Considine and Bonner all secured deals with the AFLW clubs through the CrossCoders programme, which is an international rookie camp that took place in Melbourne last September.
