No stranger to the big stage, Brisbane’s Neasa Dooley wants a piece of what her fellow Irish imports have been selling.
The first AFLW recruit from Kildare debuted in round two and has played every game since for the Lions, who will host Carlton in Saturday’s preliminary final.
The two-time premiers, on an eight-game winning streak, are seeking a fourth-straight grand final berth.
The ‘unrelenting’ underdogs playing in their sixth straight prelim
Dooley is one of 39 Irish talents in the league, along with teammates Orla O’Dwyer and Jenn Dune.
Dooley was scouted in the flesh by spectating Lions coach Craig Starcevich at the 2023 Leinster Championship before winning the All-Ireland Football Championship in front of 45,000 at Croke Park.
“That was pretty cool,” Dooley said of the biggest stage in Gaelic football.
“Plenty of Irish girls have come over and I’d been following a few … Orla was one of the first and Jenn, who had a really successful first year here.
“Then the opportunity came up.
“They’ve told me about the perks of playing in a grand final and that’s going to entice you.
“But it’s a game everyone wants to win and get to.”
The Irish All-Star was working full-time as a physiotherapist before her move but hopes her impressive rookie year will help secure an AFLW extension beyond her current two-year contract.
“To play a professional sport in a beautiful country, it’s not an opportunity you want to give up,” she said.
“So if you get the chance, you take it.
“We had a bit of a rocky start and Carlton has gotten better since (the round-three loss), but so have we.
“We’re peaking at the right time and want to test them again on our home ground.”
Standing in the Lions’ way of another grand final is Carlton.
Stream End Game with Tony Armstrong on ABC iview
The Lions were defeated by the Blues in their last meeting back in round three, with Irish pair Erone Fitzpatrick and Dayna Finn featuring prominently in Carlton’s semifinal win over Hawthorn last weekend.
Both AFLW preliminary finals will be played on Saturday.
Undefeated minor premiers North Melbourne will play Melbourne Demons at Princes Park in the Victorian capital, with the match beginning at 3:05pm AEDT.
The Lions will host the Blues at Springfield from 7:35pm AEDT.
AAP
