Orla O'Dwyer helps Brisbane Lions into another Grand Final down under

Orla O'Dwyer has helped her Brisbane Lions side into another Australian Football League Women’s [AFLW] Grand Final.

The Tipperary multi-sport star played a central role as Brisbane enjoyed a 7.4 (46) to 3.5 (23) win over reigning champions Adelaide Crows in the first preliminary final at Metricon Stadium this morning.

O’Dwyer kicked a behind and impressed overall, as the pair of recent champions and fierce rivals went head-to-head for a coveted Grand Final ticket.

She’s now one of five Irish players still in the running for AFLW glory, with a 2022 Irish Premier guaranteed. North Melbourne (Vikki Wall and Erika O’Shea) and Melbourne (Sinéad Goldrick and Blaithin Mackin) face off in tomorrow’s other preliminary final.

O’Dwyer is just one of two AFLW winners to have hailed from these shores. She won with Brisbane in 2021, while Considine was successful with Adelaide in 2019 and earlier in 2022. The Crows won their third title in five seasons in April.