Donegal skipper Niamh McLaughlin has penned a one-year contract extension to remain at the Gold Coast Suns for a third AFLW season next year.
The 2022 LGFA Senior Player of the Year and Allstar winner was one of the few positives for the Suns in a dismal 2024 campaign in which they only won one game all season resulting in the recent sacking of coach Cameron Joyce.
McLaughlin, 31, finished third on the Gold Coast Best & Fairest player count at the end of the season which underscores her importance to the side.
“Last year I was thrown in at the deep end when I first arrived at the club not knowing anyone or much about the sport, but everyone at the club; my teammates and the staff were all very supportive,” McLaughlin said.
“I think this year coming back and getting to know the girls and building relationships really helped me to transition a bit easier this year.
“I really enjoyed it, and I didn’t feel I was starting from scratch again.
“The playing group was a massive factor in my decision to stay.
“This year obviously wasn’t very good for us but it’s not representative of what the club could achieve and the talent there is in the squad.
“Hopefully we can build on that next year, have some down time, and be ready to go next year.”
GC SUNS Head of Women’s Football Fiona Sessarago believes that McLaughlin is the defensive rock on which the Suns will improve next year alongside Down veteran Clara Fitzpatrick, 34, who is also returning for possibly her last AFLW season next year.
“It is fantastic that Niamh has committed to our club,” she said.
“She has been the ultimate professional and has continued to go from strength-to-strength this season.
“Her signing is important in driving the future of our club as we strive for sustained success in the AFLW competition.”
In other news, Tipperary dual star Aisling McCarthy, a former TG4 Intermediate Players Player of the Year, finished second at the Fremantle Dockers Best and Fairest Presentation Dinner.
“Freo has been a real destination club for people like myself and people that play internationally, and my family can’t speak enough about how welcoming Freo were,” McCarthy said.
Elsewhere Donegal’s Tanya Kennedy finished fourth on the 2024 Sydney Swans Club Champion Award. The Robert Emmet’s clubwoman is the Swans most consistent defender.
Aileen Gilroy, the first Irish woman in history to win an LGFA All-Star as well as All-Australian honours, finished seventh on Hawthorn’s Best & Fairest top ten players of the season.
Hawks teammate and former Galway ladies footballer Áine McDonagh finished in ninth spot.