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August 1, 2026 \u2014 6:41pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Australia have emphatically beaten Ireland by 50 points in the historic first AFLW international fixture between the two countries at a sold-out North Sydney Oval.<\/p>\n There was standing room only at the old ground, with fans spilling out onto the boundary and an even split of Irish and Australian flags for the occasion, which showcased the very best of the AFLW.<\/p>\n The match presented the expected clash of styles: the patience and poise of Australia set against the instinctive flair of the Irish.<\/p>\n Ireland\u2019s players had been raised playing Gaelic football, a sport that does not have a mark and rewards relentless running. Against Australia, they reverted to the style they once played back home \u2013 only with a Sherrin.<\/p>\n The Irish players looked happy to be relieved of the rigid roles they play for their clubs in the AFLW, as coach Colin O\u2019Riordan allowed them to express themselves on the field. Ireland thrilled their fans with a willingness to run at the Australians, but paid for their bravery on the scoreboard.<\/p>\n \u201cThe instinct for an Irish person is to take the game on and play on at all costs. Did we get the balance right all the time? Probably not,\u201d O\u2019Riordan said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were some free kicks in the middle that we probably could have held and not gone as quick. But again, we asked them to take the game on and play off instinct. And that\u2019s how we did. It was nice to see.\u201d<\/p>\n By half-time, the Australians had 27 hitouts to Ireland\u2019s five, highlighting a huge advantage that would ultimately turn out to be the deciding factor in the game.<\/p>\n Three quick Australia goals in the first quarter from Zippy Fish, Tahlia Randall and Kate Hore were cancelled out by majors from Ireland\u2019s Blaithin Bogue and Neasa Dooley.<\/p>\n Ireland had strong performers, especially forward Bogue, who kicked her second and third goals in the second quarter, but her efforts were negated by her North Melbourne teammate and Australia forward Randall, who kicked three majors for the quarter after benefiting from her team\u2019s superiority at stoppages.<\/p>\n Goals from Australia\u2019s Chloe Molloy, Jasmine Garner and Sophie Conway gave Australia a 30-point lead and by half-time, Ireland had only managed eight marks compared to Australia\u2019s 35, highlighting a huge disadvantage that proved impossible to recover. Australia\u2019s ruck Mim Strom was outstanding, with 13 disposals and 13 hit-outs in two quarters.<\/p>\n Australian captain Jasmine Garner played in the AFLW\u2019s first game in 2017 and said the game against Ireland showed how far the competition had come.<\/p>\n \u201cGrowing up, I never thought I\u2019d have got this opportunity to play for Australia,\u201d Gardner said. \u201cBack when I played when I was younger, it wasn\u2019t cool to play, you\u2019d almost shy away from saying that you played Aussie rules<\/p>\n \u201cI just love it that all the girls want to do it. You drive past ovals and you see young girls having a kick … the best thing about tonight was just showcasing what we\u2019ve got and how far we\u2019ve come … it\u2019s just a celebration of women\u2019s footy.\u201d<\/p>\n Before the game, Australia coach Darren Crocker had voiced his concern that the game was so close to the start of the AFLW season, with the opening match between St Kilda and Carlton scheduled just eight days after Saturday\u2019s clash in Sydney.<\/p>\n The contact in defence from both teams was ferocious throughout the game and Ireland\u2019s Aine McDonagh left the field in the second quarter clutching her right elbow in obvious pain.<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s dominance continued in the third quarter with Monique Conti and Courtney Hodder extending the lead to 41 points.<\/p>\n In the final quarter, after Australian goals from Molloy and Nina Morrison, the Irish crowd responded with a rendition of The Fields of Athenry \u2013 the folk song famously sung by Irish soccer fans for eight minutes despite their team losing 4-0 to Spain in the 2012 European Championship.<\/p>\n Back then, the Irish fans cared less about the scoreline than the celebration of a special occasion. In North Sydney, it was similar.<\/p>\n Related Article Ahead of the 11th season of the AFLW, Ireland v Australia as a pre-season spectacular looks here to stay.<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Breanna](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2443b4ee60e8a0f33246cf11f162f925d1688714.jpeg\")
Breanna Koenen and Chloe Molloy celebrate after Australia\u2019s victory over Ireland.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Courtney](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bd081dbab03c6888585b955073a2058c1ef8df79.jpeg\")
Courtney Hodder with the trophy.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Australia\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/583f7615ee403abc2a1c9b0d423ec368dd306ff4.jpeg\")
Australia\u2019s Zippy Fish celebrates a goal at North Sydney Oval.AFL Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Australia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f98ab3a2a8c15042bac277a4ca5edb8311be8af2.jpeg\")
Australia run out before a packed house at North Sydney Oval.AFL Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Zippy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2ff7187420d52b3401dc768d3851f72625b8aa0c.jpeg\")
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