'I feel I've earned my spot' Armagh's Amy Mulholland prepares for AFLW season with Fremantle

Former Armagh football star Amy Mulholland doesn’t do things by halves. A qualified accountant, she will next week kick off the first full season of her AFLW career for the Fremantle Dockers. 

Mulholland (30) who was famously moved to tears when she was drafted on live television by the West Australian outfit last year, played eight matches and booted her first senior goal for her new club last season. 

The 2018 Division Two Player of the Year came to prominence with Fremantle coaches after kicking an impressive 48 goals from 12 games for Wembley Amateurs in 2021.

The following year she was elevated to WAFLW level (an Australian rules reserves completion in Western Australia) for Subiaco.  

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This time around, with nearly four months of pre-season training under her belt, Mulholland has gained the confidence to believe she belongs at AFLW level and is determined to show her coaches just what she can do against the best teams in the women’s game. 

“Last year was a bit of a whirlwind, because I was almost recruited by chance, but now I feel I have earned my spot,” Mulholland told The Irish News. 

“When I was drafted last year, there was only time for a very short pre-season, but this year I’ve had 14 weeks of pre-season training. 

“We’ve been very lucky that it’s winter here, so there have been some nice 20 degrees days for training and it hasn’t been too hot.” 

Read more: Armagh's Aimee Mackin ‘couldn't say no' to Australian opportunity

Mulholland’s definition of success this year is building on her progress from last year when she was thrown into the deep end as an Australian rules footballer.  

In season 2023, Fremantle, who finished outside of the finals contention in 12th spot on the season ladder, are aiming to hit the ground running under new coach Lisa Webb.

Webb, a retired Fremantle player, is the second former AFLW player to coach a women’s team at the highest level after signing a three-year deal with Fremantle earlier this year. 

“The most important aspect for me is having the confidence to go from strength to strength this year,” Mulholland explained. 

“We’ve got a new coach and a new game plan and it builds my confidence when I hear her telling me to keep doing what I am doing. 

“We start our season on Saturday week at home to the West Coast Eagles (West Australian derby) and you never know what could happen in terms of injuries. 

“There has been a lot of player movement in the off-season, it’s a very open competition, and it’s going to be even more competitive than last year.” 

Mulholland migrated to Australia in 2020 for non-footballing reasons. The Covid-19 pandemic swept the world that year and amidst closed borders and separation from her family across the other side of the world she forged a new life ‘Down Under’ in Australia. 

The biggest obstacle for Gaelic footballers to succesfully make the transition to Australian Rules, Mulholland believes, is learning to deal with the game’s unique physicality, which is a world away from anything she experienced in her GAA career.

“Gaelic football skills are transferable to Australian Rules, but Australian Rules is a completely different game because of the contact between players on-field”, Mulholland said. 

“There’s no difference in men’s and women’s Australian Rules and it takes a while to learn. 

“But ever since my first training session, I fell in love with Australian rules and I knew it’s the game I wanted to play.” 

Mulholland typically starts her day with a strong coffee and enjoys coastal walks in some of the most breathtaking scenery on the planet when she is not working or playing.  In her own words she is “very busy” but she wouldn’t have it any other way. 

“I spend every Thursday at the club, training, so now I am down to a four-day working week. 

“We are very fortunate to have such great facilities at the club.” 

Next month, Forkhill woman Mulholland is hoping to catch up with her pals, the Mackin sisters Blaithin and Aimee from Shane O'Neill's, who are with Melbourne Demons and were both her teammates and close friends in their days together playing for Armagh. 

“We are going to Melbourne for a week at the end of September for two away games when I will catch up with Aimee and Blaithin,” Mulholland said. 

“We went to secondary school together, played for Armagh together, and we have always remained close friends.”