Just a week since she starred for Fermanagh in their All-Ireland Junior Final triumph over Louth at Croke Park, Blaithin Bogue has arrived in Melbourne where she was serenaded to some hilarious carpool karaoke from new Irish AFLW teammates Erika O’Shea and Niamh Martin.
The Tempo woman signed a two-year contract with the North Melbourne Kangaroos earlier this year and is determined to hit the ground running in pre-season before the season kicks off on the weekend of August 30 during the men’s pre-finals bye.
On arrival at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport, Australian Ella Slocombe fell at the escalators which ascended to the baggage terminal, and if that wasn’t enough mayhem the three players also ventured to the wrong airline arrival desk before safely picking up their Erne County teammate.
Eventually with Blaithin safely in the car, the ladies broke out into a medley of popular pop hits including ‘Hey Baby’, ‘I’ll Tell Me Ma’, and the North Melbourne team song before arriving at their shared house on Sunday evening.
Blaithin participated in her first North Melbourne training session overnight.
Meanwhile, over 1,000km away in Port Augusta Donegal’s Amy Boyle-Carr impressed for the Adelaide Crows in her first ever AFLW practice match against league opposition since arriving in South Australia last month.
Boyle-Carr’s ball use off half-back, foot skills, and attacking intent were praised by Crows AFLW Senior Coach Matthew Clarke.
“She has only been in the country for three weeks,” Clarke said.
“So, for her to play her first ever game of footy and look reasonably comfortable at that level was pleasing.”
Elsewhere former Derry underage footballer Callum Brown booted two goals for the Greater Western Sydney reserves who were thrashed 122-72 away to the Brisbane Lions reserves at Brighton Homes Arena on Sunday.
Tyrone Sam Maguire winner Conor McKenna won the bragging rights in the Cross-Sperrins rivalry with Brown by celebrating the win with a match tally of 16 disposals and 3 marks.