Meath All-Ireland winners Vikki Wall and Orlagh Lally, Cork youngster Erika O'Shea and Armagh ace Bláithín Mackin all impressed in this weekend's AFLW practice matches.

Lining out alongside Cork youngster O’Shea, 2021 Footballer of the Year Wall got her first taste of Aussie Rules as she helped North Melbourne to a 20-18 win over premiers Adelaide Crows at West Lakes, and Kangaroos coach Darren Croker reserved special praise for the pair in his post-match interview.

"Terrific start, to think that was her first game of Aussie Rules and Erika’s [O’Shea] second game … it’s just so impressive the way they’ve gone about it," he said.

"She’s (Wall) got really good speed and power and once she grasps playing with our shaped footy she’s going to be a really good, dangerous player for us up forward." 

21-year-old Lally, who was outstanding as Meath made it back-to-back Brendan Martin Cup victories earlier this month, also enjoyed a winning start with her new Fremantle side defeating West Coast 19-13 at Fremantle Oval.

Meanwhile, Mackin was on target on her debut for Melbourne Demons in their 86-16 defeat of Carlton at the famous MCG ground.

Altogether, there are 21 ladies gaelic footballers set for the new AFL Women's (AFLW) season, which kicks off at the end of this month.

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