Full player squad, start time details released for game that could be moved to big AFL venue

Two star-studded squads have been officially unveiled for one of the most historic matches in AFLW history, which could be played at a big AFL stadium depending on ticket sales.

The AFL this week released 25-player squads for both Australia and Ireland ahead of the international match, which will be played on Saturday August 1. SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL SQUADS!

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The match, which will have clear air from men’s matches and be the first AFLW representative fixture since the Victoria-Allies contest in 2017, is scheduled for North Sydney Oval, with tickets to go on sale on Wednesday.

But speaking on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle on Wednesday night, CODE Sports reporter Lauren Wood said the SCG was genuinely “in play for this game”

“I can tell you discussions have been had at the AFL about moving this game to the SCG – depending on the (ticket sales) response (on Wednesday),” Wood told Midweek Tackle.

“We know there’s a really strong Irish community – arguably one of the biggest outside Ireland – in Sydney. That was the idea of playing the game there.

“It’s over to the supporters now to effectively sellout North Sydney Oval in the next couple of days. The SCG is wide open, it is on hold by the AFL for this game.”

The Irish squad, which was released on Monday, features nine All-Australians, five premiership players, three club best and fairest winners and a club captain. It’s headlined by dual All-Australian Orla O’Dwyer, premiership Roos Vikki Wall, Erika O’Shea and Blaithin Bogue, 75-game Magpie Sarah Rowe and reigning club champions Aisling McCarthy (Fremantle) and Aine McDonagh (Hawthorn).

Ireland will be coached by Irish-born Swans AFLW senior coach Colin O’Riordan, who played 34 AFL games for the Swans from 2016 to 2022. He’ll be supported by assistant coaches, including dual Lions premiership coach Craig Starcevich.

“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,” O’Riordan said.

“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.”

The Aussies, meanwhile, have 10 premiership players in their squad, including Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide), Jasmine Garner and Ash Riddell (North Melbourne), Kate Hore (Melbourne), Tyla Hanks (Melbourne), Monique Conti (Richmond) and Sophie Conway (Brisbane). Young stars like Ella Roberts (West Coast Eagles), Ellie McKenzie (Richmond), Tyanna Smith (St Kilda), Georgie Prespakis (Geelong Cats), Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide) and Zippy Fish (Sydney Swans) have also been included.

Australia coach Darren Crocker, who’s led North Melbourne to back-to-back AFLW flags, said he was “excited by the group of players we’ve assembled to represent Australia”.

“Selecting just 25 players was an enormous challenge given the depth of talent across the competition, but we believe we’ve put together a well-balanced squad with the experience, leadership and attributes to be more than competitive and showcase how far our game has come,” Crocker said. “We can’t wait to see them come together against Ireland.

“Representing your country is a special honour, and we know the players selected will embrace the opportunity to be part of this historic clash.”

Crocker will be supported by Eagles coach Daisy Pearce, Ben Brown, Courtney Cramey and Tanya Hetherington.

The AFLW Australia-Ireland international match will be played under Australian football rules with a classic Sherrin ball.

Tickets for the game go on sale on Wednesday.

The match will start at 4.15pm (AEST) on Saturday August 1 and will be broadcast live nationally on Fox Footy, via Foxtel (Channel 504), Kayo Sports, Kayo Freebies and Binge.

Australia squad: Chelsea Biddell (Adelaide Crows/South Australia), Libby Birch (North Melbourne/Victoria), Maeve Chaplin (Melbourne/Victoria), Monique Conti (Richmond/Victoria), Sophie Conway (Brisbane Lions/Queensland), Harriet Cordner (Carlton/Victoria), Zippy Fish (Sydney Swans/Western Australia), Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne/Victoria), Maddison Gay (Essendon/Victoria), Tahlia Gillard (Melbourne/Victoria), Tyla Hanks (Melbourne/Victoria), Courtney Hodder (Brisbane Lions/Western Australia), Kate Hore (Melbourne/Victoria), Emma Kearney (North Melbourne/Victoria), Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide Crows/South Australia), Ellie McKenzie (Richmond/Victoria), Chloe Molloy (Sydney Swans/Victoria), Georgie Prespakis (Geelong Cats/Victoria), Tahlia Randall (North Melbourne/Queensland), Ash Riddell (North Melbourne/Victoria), Ella Roberts (West Coast Eagles/Western Australia), Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide/South Australia), Tyanna Smith (St Kilda/Victoria), Mim Strom (Fremantle/Western Australia), Charlie Thomas (West Coast Eagles/Western Australia)

Ireland squad: Blaithin Bogue (North Melbourne/Fermanagh), Amy Boyle-Carr (Adelaide Crows/Donegal), Kayleigh Cronin (Adelaide Crows/Kerry), Neasa Dooley (Brisbane Lions/Kildare), Jennifer Dunne (Brisbane Lions/Dublin), Dayna Finn (Carlton/Mayo), Erone Fitzpatrick (Carlton/Laois), Amy Gavin Mangan (North Melbourne/Offaly), Sinead Goldrick (Melbourne/Dublin), Rachel Kearns (Geelong Cats/Mayo), Grace Kelly (Adelaide Crows/Mayo), Niamh Kelly (Adelaide Crows/Mayo), Tanya Kennedy (Sydney Swans/Donegal), Orlagh Lally (Fremantle/Meath), Niamh Martin (Hawthorn/Tipperary), Aisling McCarthy (Fremantle/Tipperary), Paris McCarthy (Sydney Swans/Kerry), Aine McDonagh (Hawthorn/Galway), Niamh McLaughlin (Gold Coast SUNS/Donegal), Aishling Moloney (Geelong Cats/Tipperary), Eilish O’Dowd (GWS GIANTS/Leitrim), Orla O’Dwyer (Brisbane Lions/Tipperary), Erika O’Shea (North Melbourne/Cork), Sarah Rowe (Collingwood/Mayo), Vikki Wall (North Melbourne/Meath)