Roos Rule the Roost as AFLW Takes on the World
Australia is about to play its first-ever AFLW representative match against Ireland, and North Melbourne has more players in the squad than anyone else. That tells you everything you need to know about where the Kangaroos sit in this competition right now — and it also opens up a conversation about the whole trajectory of this incredible code.
Let me be upfront: I bleed maroon and gold. Brisbane Lions, always. But even the most committed Lions fan has to tip their hat when another club does something genuinely right, and North Melbourne’s footprint across this squad is hard to argue with. This isn’t about barracking — this is about celebrating a moment that’s bigger than any one club, any one state, or any one rivalry.
A Historic First — And It’s Been a Long Time Coming
For years, fans of the women’s game have been asking for more. More games, more broadcast time, more investment, more respect. A representative match against an international opponent is exactly the kind of milestone that legitimises everything the players, coaches, administrators and supporters have been working toward since the AFLW launched back in 2017.
The fact that Ireland is the opponent makes it even more fascinating. Irish Gaelic football shares enough DNA with our game that there’s already a pathway for players to cross over — we’ve seen it in the men’s game with the International Rules Series for decades. Now it’s the women’s turn, and honestly, it’s been well overdue. The AFL should have got here sooner, but let’s not dwell on that. We’re here now, and that’s what counts.
Why North Melbourne’s Representation Is Legit Impressive
North Melbourne leading the way in selections isn’t a fluke. The Kangaroos have been one of the powerhouse clubs in AFLW for several seasons, consistently developing talent, backing their list management and creating a culture that players clearly want to be part of. When selectors sit down to pick the best available Australians, they keep landing on Kangaroos — and that’s a reflection of the work done at Arden Street.
It’s also worth noting that high representation from one club in a representative squad isn’t unprecedented in the men’s game. When certain clubs dominate the competition, their players dominate the state and national sides too. It’s a natural consequence of excellence. North Melbourne have built something real, and this squad selection is essentially a peer review with the tick of approval.
No notes, honestly.
What About the Lions? A Queensland Perspective
Okay, I can’t write this whole thing without asking the obvious question from a Brisbane point of view: how are the Lions represented in the squad? Queensland women’s footy has come a long way, and Brisbane’s AFLW program has been a huge part of growing the game up here. Every Lions player who makes a squad like this is proof that the talent pipeline in Queensland is real and getting stronger.
Growing the game in this state matters — not just for the Lions but for the whole competition. When young girls in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Cairns or Townsville see Queensland players in an Australian jumper, that’s recruitment. That’s inspiration. That’s the kind of thing that fills junior clubs and fills grandstands in ten years time. The AFLW’s reach in Queensland is something I genuinely care about, and moments like this help push it forward.
The Ireland Factor — More Than Just a Novelty
Some people will look at this and think it’s a gimmick. A bit of cross-code fun, a couple of days in the spotlight, and then back to the real business of the AFLW season. I’d push back on that pretty hard.
The International Rules concept in the men’s game has had its ups and downs, but at its best it’s been genuinely exciting football and a reminder that our game has qualities that resonate internationally. The women’s version of that exchange has the potential to be even more meaningful, becuase it arrives at a moment when the AFLW is still establishing itself globally. Getting Australian women’s players on an international stage — representing their country, playing under lights, wearing the green and gold — is the kind of exposure that lifts the entire competition’s profile.
Ireland is also a serious proposition. Their ladies’ Gaelic football players are fierce competitors. This won’t be a walkover. The Irish will come with physicality, skill and a chip on their shoulder, and that’s exactly the kind of test Australian players need to grow. Competition sharpens everyone.
The Players This Puts in the Spotlight
One of the things I love most about a squad announcement like this is the players it elevates. Some of these women have been grinding away for years — playing finals, training through injuries, balancing footy with work or study — and they don’t always get the recognition they deserve. Being picked to represent Australia, for the very first time in women’s football history at this level, is something they’ll carry with them for the rest of their lives.
\p>Across the clubs represented in the squad, you’ve got players at every stage of their careers. Young guns who are barely out of their teens, experienced campaigners who’ve seen the competition evolve from its scrappy early days into the polished product it is now, and a whole lot of talent in between. That mix is important. You want this squad to have wisdom and you want it to have hunger, and by all accounts it has plenty of both.
What the AFL Needs to Do Now
Look, I’m a fan. I’m always going to push for more. And what this historic moment demands from the AFL is a commitment to making this a regular feature of the calendar. One match is a beautiful thing — a series of matches, a genuine ongoing international program, is a movement.
The AFL has talked a big game about growing women’s football globally. Ireland, Great Britain, the United States, Canada — there are communities around the world where AFLW has potential. But you build global reach through ongoing competition, not one-off events that get filed away under ‘nice experiment’. Use this as a foundation. Back it properly. Give it broadcast visibility. Market the heck out of it.
The players have earned it. The fans want it. The game is ready.
This Is the Moment We Celebrate
At the end of the day, I want to zoom out and just appreciate what’s actually happening here. Australian women are going to play representative football against an international opponent for the very first time in AFLW history. North Melbourne’s players will be front and centre in that picture, which is a genuine credit to the club. And every player in that squad — regardless of the jumper they wear on the weekend — will carry the whole country’s game on their back when they pull on the green and gold.
As a Lions fan, as a Queensland footy tragic, and as someone who genuinely cares about the AFLW being taken as seriously as the men’s game, I am here for all of it. Fully, completely, without reservation.
This is what growing the game looks like. Let’s enjoy every second of it.
