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\nBronagh O’Donnell (L) in action for Ireland against Australia in 2006<\/p>\n
SATURDAY, 1 AUGUST<\/p>\n
Australian Football League Women (AFLW) REPRESENTATION MATCH <\/p>\n
Australia v Ireland, North Sydney Oval, 7.15am (Irish time).<\/p>\n
TV <\/p>\n
Live coverage on the TG4 Player and TG4.ie from 7am. Deferred coverage on TG4 from 12.05pm.<\/p>\n
WHAT’S HAPPENING? <\/p>\n
This will be the first women\u2019s clash between the sides in a classic Aussie rules formats, a demonstration of the continued Irish imprint on the AFLW.<\/p>\n
That will be very apparent when the 2026 campaign begins just over a week later, with 44 Irish players involved in the upcoming season.<\/p>\n
AFL men\u2019s games on Saturday have been scheduled around it so it gets a free time-slot.<\/p>\n
The last AFLW representation match came back in 2017 when their State of Origin fixture saw players from Victoria defeat the Allies, consisting of players from the rest of Australia.<\/p>\n
\nBronagh O’Donnell (L) in action for Ireland against Australia in 2006<\/p>\n
Back in 2006, Ireland did play Australia at Kingspan Breffni and Parnell Park in an international rules series with the rules closer to the men\u2019s compromise matches we\u2019re more familiar with but this is the first meeting in this format.<\/p>\n
GAA President Jarlath Burns managed the side and they won the first test 134-15 with the second test finishing 39-18 in Ireland\u2019s favour. Armagh\u2019s Caroline O\u2019Hanlon is the only remaining active inter-county player from the squad,<\/p>\n
IS IT A SELLOUT? <\/p>\n
Yes, it is.<\/p>\n
More than 8,000 tickets were quickly snapped up for the first international clash between the countries, with a waitlist put in place for those not lucky enough to grab a spot at the North Sydney Oval.<\/p>\n
The multisport facility, known locally as ‘Bear Park’, is one of the oldest cricket grounds in Australia with a pitch first laid in 1867.<\/p>\n
![\"Blaithin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/002384d4-614.jpg\"\/)
\nBl\u00e1ith\u00edn Bogue will be one of Ireland’s most dangerous attacking threats<\/p>\n
One of the stands is named after famous Australian cricketer Bill \u2018Tiger\u2019 O\u2019Reilly, made possible after his grandfather emigrated there from Cavan.<\/p>\n
WHAT ABOUT THE RULES? <\/p>\n
While the men\u2019s matches we\u2019ve known in the past combined rules from the GAA and the AFL, this will be played using AFLW rules, including the Sherrin ball.<\/p>\n
WILL THIS LEAD TO A RETURN TO THE MEN\u2019S SERIES? <\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t being viewed really as a tester for a men\u2019s game return, the last of which was played back in 2017 with Australia coming out on top 2-0 on home turf.<\/p>\n
Planned tests were cancelled in 2020 and 2022 although a masters series was played in more recent times.<\/p>\n
There have been hints of both the GAA and AFL being open to a return, but finding a spot in the calendar is the most obvious hindrance.<\/p>\n
A few years ago, controversial AFL star Jason Akermanis told RT\u00c9 Sport <\/a>the decision would ultimately lie with the Irish sporting body: “I would love to see it back, but it\u2019s just what the GAA want to do. The AFL wouldn\u2019t have a problem.”<\/p>\n CAN WE MAKE THIS ABOUT MAYO? <\/p>\n Of course we can.<\/p>\n
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