{"id":806533,"date":"2026-07-17T17:38:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T17:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/806533\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T17:38:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T17:38:09","slug":"footy-fans-locked-out-of-aflw-australia-vs-ireland-game-told-to-go-to-pub-as-post-infuriates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/806533\/","title":{"rendered":"Footy fans locked out of AFLW Australia vs Ireland game, told to go to pub as post infuriates"},"content":{"rendered":"

Build it and they will come, to the pub. <\/p>\n

The AFL has been accused of putting a ceiling on the growth of the women\u2019s game over the scheduling the AFLW Australia vs Ireland game on Saturday, August 1. <\/p>\n

Watch The 2026 AFLW Australia v Ireland International LIVE & Free on Kayo Freebies Sat 1 Aug | Register free now, no credit card required.<\/a><\/p>\n

The inaugural special exhibition game is scheduled to take place one week before the AFLW season proper gets underway in August, but the choice of venue has caused a stir. <\/p>\n

The match between Australia and Ireland will be held at North Sydney Oval, which has a capacity of around 9,000 and has hosted many Sydney Swans AFLW games over the years.<\/p>\n

But the demand for the one-off game has seen tickets sell out already, frustrating fans who have been locked out from one of the more innovative and exciting footy games on the calendar. <\/p>\n

There had been calls for the game to be moved to Henson Park in Marrickville, which has a capacity of around 20,000, or the SCG, which can accommodate up to 48,000 fans. <\/p>\n

But the AFL has confirmed Australia vs Ireland will remain at North Sydney Oval, and has instructed fans who missed out on tickets to watch the game at local watering holes around Sydney.<\/p>\n

The league\u2019s official account posted a list of pubs around Sydney where the game will be shown on TV including the Coogee Bay Hotel in Coogee, where there is a large Irish community.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s safe to say that post has gone down like a led balloon with fans who are frustrated the game wasn\u2019t moved to a bigger stadium. <\/p>\n

Sports reporter Nic Negrepontis wrote on X: \u201cI know what decision the NRL would\u2019ve made in the same situation and it\u2019s ah not this one. The league is desperate to keep a lid on AFLW.\u201d<\/p>\n

Journalist Dani Brown said: \u201cImagine telling people to just go to the pub instead of giving more people the chance to watch in person by moving it to the SCG. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe keep being told the AFLW needs to grow to be sustainable – this is a prime growth opportunity but it\u2019s being stunted without being given a chance.\u201d <\/p>\n

One fan wrote on X: \u201cIt\u2019s almost as if it would\u2019ve been better to host the match at a larger venue, so that more of the people who want to see it would be able to!\u201d<\/p>\n

This week the AFLW website stated a ticket waitlist had gone live on Ticketmaster after all available tickets for the game were exhausted. <\/p>\n

In recent years the AFLW has preferred to schedule games at boutique venue to ensure packed out crowds in a loud atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Many point to the 2019 AFLW Grand Final, which was held at Adelaide Oval in front of a record crowd of more than 53,000 people. <\/p>\n

That was a high watermark for the women\u2019s game and while it was perhaps a perfect storm with hometown hero Erin Phillips saluting with the Adelaide Crows, the AFLW has been reluctant to hold games in larger stadiums. <\/p>\n

The 2021 and 2022 grand finals were held at Adelaide Oval but had much smaller crowds, prompting the AFLW to hold the season decider at smaller venues like Brisbane\u2019s Brighton Homes Arena and Melbourne\u2019s Ikon Park instead of Marvel Stadium.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sell-out speaks to the excitement surrounding representative football on the AFLW stage, and we can\u2019t thank everyone who has got behind this historic clash enough,\u201d AFL Women\u2019s boss Laura Kane said, per Code Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled by the demand and can\u2019t wait for fans experience the atmosphere of a packed-out North Sydney Oval, but for those who missed out on tickets, the next best place to enjoy the action will be at one of our participating watch party venues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ireland\u2019s squad includes Orla O\u2019Dwyer, the first Irish player to be named to an AFLW All Australian team, as well as sisters Grace and Niamh Kelly. <\/p>\n

Irish-born Sydney Swans AFLW senior coach Colin O\u2019Riordan has been appointed head coach of Ireland.<\/p>\n

Watch AFLW vs Ireland on Saturday August 1 for free via Kayo Freebies<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Build it and they will come, to the pub. 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