Armagh footballer Amy Mulholland has penned a new one-year contract to remain at the Fremantle Dockers in AFLW next season.
The Forkhill woman has played 29 senior matches across three seasons at Fremantle in Western Australia and established herself as the team’s standout small forward.
Mulholland, who works as fully qualified accountant away from football, missed Fremantle’s semi-final defeat away to the Adelaide Crows last month after landing on her head and neck in the Dockers’ thrilling elimination final victory over Essendon the week before.
Mercifully she was cleared of any serious injuries, but her absence left a void in Fremantle’s forward line which proved to be their undoing against the Crows.
“We are delighted to have Amy remain with us for the 2025 season,” Fremantle’s AFLW list manager Darryn Fry said.
“The small forward role can be tough at times, but Amy played a very important role for us there this year, as well as kicking a couple of important goals at crucial moments.”
The Crows have officially confirmed the signing of Kerry All-Ireland winner and All-Star Kayleigh Cronin as a rookie for the 2025 season.
The 2024 All-Ireland final Player of the Match is scheduled to arrive for the start of pre-season training in May which will be a significant blow to Kerry’s prospects of retaining their LGFA Ladies Championship next year.
“Kayleigh is a powerful athlete with excellent speed for her size and a fierce competitive streak,” Crows Head of Women’s Football Phil Harper said.
“She defends really strongly, likes to take the game on, is driven to succeed and a perfect fit for our environment.”
Cronin is the fourth Irish player in Adelaide’s AFLW squad, alongside the Kelly sisters, Niamh and Grace, and off-contract Donegal star Amy Boyle-Carr, who is likely to pen a new deal next week.
“We believe Kayleigh has the skillset to help make us better as a team and she is also a great character,” Harper explained.
“Kayleigh can’t wait to get started and we look forward to welcoming her to Adelaide next year.”
Elsewhere, the Brisbane Lions have announced the signing of Kildare’s Neasa Dooley on a two-year deal.
Dooley enjoyed a hugely successful 2023 season when she won an All-Ireland Intermediate championship, Leinster Championship, and Division 3 League titles all in the same year.
“It’s been a dream of mine for some time now to go play in Australia so to get to experience that with a top team like Brisbane is going to be a surreal moment for me,” Dooley said.
“I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Club and the culture built around the team.”
Dooley will become Brisbane’s third Irish AFLW player alongside Dublin’s Jennifer Dunne and Tipperary’s Orla O’Dwyer.
