Donegal footballer Tanya Kennedy made Australian rules history in round one of the 2023 season on Sunday when she played for the Sydney Swans in the club’s first ever AFLW win.
The Swans joined AFLW as an expansion side last year but lost every game. This time around, they started their season with a statement victory after defeating Greater Western Sydney 56-41 in the Sydney derby at North Sydney Oval. Robert Emmet's clubwoman Kennedy (30) collected 9 disposals (3 kicks & 6 handballs) and laid 4 tackles in defence.
On Friday, Armagh’s Blaithin Mackin (24) came off the interchange bench to help the Melbourne Demons thrash Collingwood 73-31 at Ikon Park in Melbourne.
The Demons are many pundits pick to defend their 2022 premiership title in which Mackin celebrated the opening goal in the grand final defeat of the Brisbane Lions. The Orchard County ball magnet finished the game with 18 disposals (16 kicks & 2 handballs), 2 marks, and one tackle in the Demons forward line.
On Saturday at the same venue, former Donegal captain Niamh McLaughlin (30) made her AFLW debut for the Gold Coast Suns who lost one of the standout games of the round to Carlton in a two-point thriller 54-52.
The Blues led by 23 points (6 points for a goal & 1 point for a behind) in the final term but the Suns staged a remarkable comeback by kicking the next six scores before ultimately falling short.
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McLaughlin, who was last season’s LGFA Senior Player of the Year and an Allstar winner, tallied 7 disposals (4 kicks & 3 handballs) and one tackle in the Suns backline.
Down footballer Clara Fitzpatrick (32) also featured for the Suns with a match tally of 8 disposals (5 kicks & 3 handballs), 2 marks, and 2 tackles. The Mourne County veteran made the move to the Suns from Saint Kilda in the off-season.
Also on Saturday, Donegal Allstar Yvonne Bonner (36) kicked two goals and behind for the Adelaide Crows in their 58-28 defeat of Port Adelaide in the South Australian derby at Norwood Oval.
In a heartwarming moment that sent social media into a frenzy earlier this week, Bonner’s toddler, Brid delivered the news of her Crows debut in an envelope in front of the whole playing group after senior coach Matthew Clarke addressed his players. The letter read “Dear Mummy congratulations on making your Crows debut.” The former GWS forward collected 10 disposals (7 kicks & 3 handballs), 2 marks, and one tackle.
Former Armagh football star Amy Mulholland (30) also celebrated her first win of the season when Fremantle’s 27-19 defeat of the West Coast Eagles in Sunday’s West Australian derby at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.
The Dockers notched their sixth consecutive victory against their crosstown rivals but they were made to work for it by the Eagles who were the better side in the third quarter when they cut Fremantle’s lead down to just two points. Mulholland registered 6 disposals (2 kicks & 4 handballs) and also laid 5 tackles in Fremantle’s forward line.
