Orla O'Dwyer shone for the Brisbane Lions as the demolished the Fremantle Dockers by 49 points in the Gabba today.
The Tipperary player - an All-Australian last season - kicked two goals and amassed 20 disposals in a 76-27 victory.
Fremantle suffered a sobering defeat but two Irish players scored on their debuts, Áine Tighe and Amy Mulholland kicking a goal apiece.
Cora Staunton kicked three goals, taking her overall tally in the league to 50, but her GWS Giants side went down 41-34 against the Western Bulldogs.
Staunton's half-century of goals leaves her second in the all-time list behind Darcy Vescio.
Move over, Cora Staunton coming through 👊#ColesGoals | #AFLW | #AFLWDogsGiants pic.twitter.com/wPwU8zoiH8
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) August 28, 2022
Mayo's Rachel Kearns unfortunately ruptured her AC joint (shoulder) as her Geelong Cats side defeated Richmond in a low scoring clash, 15-11.
On Saturday, Aisling McCarthy starred as the West Coast Eagles began the AFLW season with a 40-28 victory over Port Adelaide.
The Tipperary star scored a superb goal early in the fourth quarter after dummying past two defenders, while she also had 18 disposals, six clearances and claimed two marks.
Oh my McCarthy 🤯
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) August 27, 2022
The Eagles are back within a kick!#AFLW | #AFLWEaglesPower pic.twitter.com/DrBtB0Dehg
Vikki Wall and Erika O'Shea impressed on their debuts for North Melbourne Kangaroos as they thumped Gold Coast Suns 40-14.
LGFA Player of the Year Wall, who won back-to-back All-Ireland Senior titles with Meath, finished with nine disposals, seven tackles and five marks, while Cork teenager O’Shea had five disposals.
FIRST WIN. FIRST POST MATCH INTERVIEW @vikki_wall was OUTSTANDING for @northmelbournew in her DEBUT GAME WIN over Gold Coast Suns 💚
— AFLW Ireland (@aflw_ireland) August 27, 2022
An EXCITING Season ahead for Vikki🙌#AFLW #aflwomens #aflwireland5 #AWholeNewBallGame #WomenInSport #IrishWomen pic.twitter.com/8nozuwqgh9
Ciara Fitzpatrick made her return for St Kilda in their 56-27 victory over Sydney Swans. The Down native, who missed the past two seasons due to visa issues and a third ACL injury, had 11 disposals and two tackles.
Fermanagh’s Joanne Doonan scored a behind and had eight disposals in Essendon Bombers’ 53-27 win against Hawthorn Hawks.
Aileen Gilroy lined out for Hawthorn, the Galway native scoring a behind and teeing up Zoe Barbakos for one of her two goals.
Niamh Kelly made her debut for Adelaide Crows on Friday as the defending champions were beaten 44-26 by Melbourne in a repeat of last year's final.
