Niamh McLaughlin makes preliminary AFLW All-Australian squad
Despite the Gold Coast Suns finishing bottom of the pile in the AFLW regulation season, the Moville woman has been selected in the provisional All-Australian squad - the equivalent of a GAA or LGFA All-Star nomination
Niamh McLaughlin has been selected in the provisional AFLW All-Australian squad - which is the equivalent of a GAA or LGFA All-Star nomination.
A total of eight Irish players have earned spots in the preliminary 42-player line-up. Tanya Kennedy surprisingly misses out despite having been excellent once more for the Sydney Swans.
But with the Swans missing out on the finals run-in Down Under, the Castlefin girls didn’t make the cut.
Donegal’s other Aussie Rules representative, Amy Boyler Carr, is looking forward to the business end of the season with the Adelaide Crows, but the Glenties girl also misses out.
Geelong Cats and Tipperary star Aishling Moloney is among nine players hoping to retain their place from last year’s lineup.
Joining her on the shortlist are fellow Irish representatives Jennifer Dunne (Brisbane Lions and Dublin), Niamh Kelly (Adelaide Crows and Mayo),
McLaughlin (Gold Coast Suns and Donegal), Blaithin Bogue (North Melbourne and Fermanagh), Áine McDonagh (Hawthorn and Galway), and Erone Fitzpatrick (Carlton Blues and Laois).
In 2024, the Irish contingent in the All-Australian team included Aisling McCarthy (Fremantle Dockers), Aishling Moloney (Geelong Cats), Aileen Gilroy, and Áine McDonagh (both from Hawthorn).
The final selection of 21 players, featuring both a captain and vice-captain, will be revealed during the W Awards on Monday, November 24.