Former Tipperary footballer Colin O'Riordan has been named Ireland head coach for the Australian Football League Women's (AFLW) clash against Australia in August, with Cora Staunton to act as chair of the selectors.
The game will be played as an AFL match, rather than an International Rules clash, with an oval Sherrin football used.
There are over 40 Irish players registered in the AFLW.
Last year, five made the All-Australian side: Brisbane's Jennifer Dunne, Carlton's Dayna Finn, Hawthorn's Aine McDonagh, North Melbourne's Blaithin Bogue and Gold Coast's Niamh McLaughlin.
Earlier this month, former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said discussions had begun around the formation of an AFLW team that would be exclusively made up of Irish players, testament to the volume and impact of those recruited Down Under.
Bringing some Irish flair 🇮🇪
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) May 27, 2026
Sydney Swans coach Colin O'Riordan has been named as the coach of Ireland for 2026 NAB AFLW Australia v Ireland. pic.twitter.com/sfSjNCB9Mk
Last December, O'Riordan became the first ever full-time Irish senior coach in AFL/AFLW history he was appointed by Sydney Swans women. He made 34 AFL appearances for the Swans after joining the set-up in 2015.
O'Riordan won a Munster SFC title with Tipp in 2020 after being given permission by the Swans to come home for the decider.
With Ireland, he'll be supported by Brisbane Lions coach Craig Starcevich who has been named senior assistant coach.
After a glittering Gaelic football career with Mayo, Staunton went to Australia to play for Greater Western Sydney Giants from 2017 to 2023. She'll also back up O'Riordan by overseeing the selection process.
The match will be held at the 16,000-capacity North Sydney Oval on Saturday, 1 August, a fortnight before the start of the 2026 AFLW campaign.
