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Replying To Kew:  "The Irish team has been limited to players who have made their debut in the AFLW, ruling out the most recent wave of recruits.

It's an unsurprisingly quick team, but concerns over a lack of height are unfounded, given the presence of Aishling Moloney, Aine McDonagh and Vikki Wall (who is a little shorter, but is yet to meet a defender she couldn't bury into the turf) in attack, and three key backs in Jen Dunne, Clara Fitzpatrick and Kayleigh Cronin.

The versatility of Orlagh Lally and Rachel Kearns will help the Irish team management, there's plenty who can rotate between half-back, wing and half-forward, while Tanya Kennedy also capable of playing as a smaller lockdown defender if needed.

Two-time North Melbourne premiership coach Darren Crocker is hot favourite to lead the Aussies, with a tailor-made Irish answer in new Sydney counterpart Colin O'Riordan.

B: Jen Dunne, Kayleigh Cronin
HB: Dayna Finn, Clara Fitzpatrick, Sinead Goldrick
C: Grace Kelly, Aisling McCarthy, Niamh Kelly
HF: Orla O'Dwyer, Aine McDonagh, Sarah Rowe
F: Vikki Wall, Aishling Moloney
Foll: Eilish O'Dowd, Erone Fitzpatrick, Niamh McLaughlin (captain)
I/C: Orlagh Lally, Blaithin Bogue, Rachel Kearns, Erika O'Shea, Neasa Dooley, Tanya Kennedy, Niamh Martin"
Cora Staunton is going to be in the coaching team i believe

combo (Galway) - Posts: 39 - 08/06/2026 20:18:27    2678739

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The AFL will reportedly limit contact training from next season, as it continues to try and combat concussions.

Interesting move. One positive for the GAA is they don't have these health issues like AFL or rugby

Kew (Galway) - Posts: 342 - 24/06/2026 13:17:12    2681688

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Replying To Kew:  "The AFL will reportedly limit contact training from next season, as it continues to try and combat concussions.

Interesting move. One positive for the GAA is they don't have these health issues like AFL or rugby"
Gaelic football and hurling are contact sports. Rugby is a collision sport. AFL is somewhere between them.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8654 - 24/06/2026 15:05:48    2681704

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Gaelic football and hurling are contact sports. Rugby is a collision sport. AFL is somewhere between them."
Of the concussion related injuries are due to the rugby tackle - Rugby are trying to combat it.


In Aussie rules, the tackler often blindsides the man with the ball, slings the player around and dumps him into the turf - that is where the concussion takes place. That tackle is banned, but the punishment isnt high. The other big source being the contest for "breaking ball" as the ball hops around all over the place and lads are diving around after it.

Rugbys tackles are generally front on - and half of them are due to poor tackling technique - player putting his head across the player in possession - asking to get knocked out. Jacob Stockdale being a prime example of a man who has reached the top of the game without being able to tackle properly - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=764505588116555 -
Rugby could easily cut out the concussions if they penalised tacking with your face - Stockdale would spend most of the match in the bin and eventually learn to tackle properly


Football is almost non contact now - so head collisions have reduced - they will likely increase as the battle for breaking ball increases. They will never be near the amount that Rugby has.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1977 - 25/06/2026 13:55:59    2681859

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Dozens of Australian Rules players diagnosed with CTE expose scale of AFL's brain injury crisis. Worrying times I hope GAA players thinking of a move are educated on the risks.

Kew (Galway) - Posts: 342 - 29/06/2026 14:01:26    2682874

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