Jennifer Dunne reflects on historic double success with Dublin and Brisbane Lions

Ahmer Khokar

On August 13, Jennifer Dunne celebrated winning an All-Ireland senior ladies’ football championship after scoring two points in Dublin’s five-point victory over Kerry.

Barely four months later, the three-time All-Ireland winner, produced a defensive masterclass at full-back for the Brisbane Lions who defeated North Melbourne by 17-points to win the 2023 AFLW Grand Final in Melbourne.

If winning two titles in two different sports staged 10,000 miles apart was not enough, Dunne, who had never touched a Sherrin before arriving in Australia, also made history by becoming the first player to win both an All-Ireland and an AFLW premiership in a calendar year.

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The cross-code star is understandably in disbelief over the enormity of her 2023 achievements.

“I came over essentially two-and-a-half weeks before the (AFLW) competition started,” Dunne said.

“I won a flag at home or the equivalent of it with my team, Dublin, which was insane.

“The likes of (Melbourne’s) Sinead Goldrick ... she’s someone else who has won an All-Ireland and a premiership, which is a cool accolade to have. But to think I’ve done both in the same year is a bit surreal.

“It’s hard to believe in the moment now. I’m happy, but I think when I look back over my career, later in life, it’ll definitely be a cool accomplishment to have.”

Lions coach Craig Starcevich has strong claims to being the greatest AFLW coach in history.

He has led his charges to two premierships and only once have the Lions failed to reach the preliminary final stage under his tutelage. One measure of Starcevich’s coaching expertise is how he turned Dunne from a rookie into a linchpin of Brisbane’s defence in a matter of a few weeks.

“When I debuted (in round three), I definitely didn’t know some of the rules and I was a bit of a headless chicken,” Dunne explained.

“When I look back to when we played North Melbourne last, back in round four, I was kind of running around, I didn’t even know what I was doing.

“My strength is my height and strength, so my coaches identified me as someone who could try to pick off some of the taller girls in the competition.

“It’s a daunting role in itself.

“Obviously the girls have put a lot of trust in me, so I did my best to make everything a contest.

“I have a never-say-die attitude and try to give it everything.”

At this stage, dates for the 2024 AFLW season have not been finalised but there are no suggestions they will clash with the GAA season, leaving Dunne and other Irish AFLW players free to play in the All-Ireland senior ladies’ football championship for their respective counties next year.

“It’s a daunting move (to leaving Ireland and play in AFLW),” Dunne said.

“It’s been lovely having Orla (Tipperary dual star Orla O’Dwyer,) as well, just to have a familiar face and someone who relates to it.

“You don’t realise how far away Australia is until you actually make the move.

“We live in a different world over in Ireland.

“I love my friends at home and I miss them so much.

“I think the Grand Final was at half-three in the morning, so a few came over to the house and watched with my brother and sister, which is so nice.

“The girls are always saying last year they had a clear run and beating teams out the window, then the final came, and they were caught on the hop by Melbourne.

“This year, definitely for the group it’s been really good to have those competitive games where you have to grind it out and never-say-die attitude, where there’s a goal in it or whatever.

“Our backs were against the wall in the fourth quarter (of the Grand Final), and we came out and just showed what the Lions spirit is about.”

The current AFLW trading period, when players can switch clubs ends on Thursday, but delisted players including former Fermanagh captain Joanne Doonan are eligible for the delisted free agency period from December 15-16. There is also a national draft on December 18 for players who are eligible to be selected by any club.

Last week several Irish women voted highly in their club’s end of season ‘Best & Fairest’ award count.

At the completion of each AFLW match, senior coaches award a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rating for the five best players by his estimation. The three AFLW line coaches are also required to award a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rating to the best five players by their estimation. These ratings are then combined, with 20 votes being the maximum number any player can receive for an AFLW Round.

There are around 30 players in each AFLW squad, consisting of 16 players in each team, reserves who are also senior listed players, and rookies.

The following Irish players were recently voted in the top ten by their AFLW clubs.

-Mayo midfielder Niamh Kelly finished in third place in the voting for the Adelaide Crows

-Tipperary dual star Orla O’Dwyer finished third for Brisbane

-Donegal defender Tanya Kennedy finished in sixth place for the Sydney Swans

-Tipperary forward Aishling Maloney finished seventh for Geelong

-Donegal star and 2022 TG4 senior Players’ Player of the Year Niamh McLaughlin finished ninth for Gold Coast

-Armagh winger Blaithin Mackin finished ninth for the Melbourne Demons