Aimee and Blaithin Mackin from Armagh played for the Melbourne Demons in their 25-74 victory over Geelong in round five of the AFLW season in front of 4,312 spectators at GMHBA Stadium.
The defending champions are currently five for five this year and have unstoppable momentum, making them the clear favorites to win the 2022 premiership in December.
All-star winger Blaithin only managed 6 possessions (5 kicks and 1 handball) and 3 tackles during the game. Aimee, a football player for Armagh and Shane O’Neill, made two tackles and collected 11 disposals in the opponent’s forward line (5 kicks and 6 handballs).
The Demons will host the Adelaide Crows in an eagerly anticipated tiop of the table round six showdown next Saturday. The Crows, the only other side to have won all five matches this season, defeated the Gold Coast Suns 47-15 at Unley Oval in front of 3,300 supporters on Sunday.
Donegal’s Yvonne Bonner finished the four quarters with 10 disposals (6 kicks & 4 handballs), 3 marks, and 3 tackles.
On the opposite side, former Donegal captain and 2022 GAA Ladies Footballer of the Year, Niamh McLaughlin. finished the four quarters with 8 disposals (5 kicks & 3 handballs), and 2 marks.
Down footballer Clara Fitzpatrick collected 12 disposals (6 kicks & 6 handballs), 3 marks, and 1 tackle.
At the mid-way point of the home and away season, the Suns in fifth have a three wins and two losses record for the season. They are now one win behind fourth place Brisbane Lions which could prove signficant in such a tight competition. Only the top four sides are assured of securing a double chance of winning the premiership in December and only the top two sides could potentially also host two home finals ahead of the Grand Final on December 3.
Armagh’s Amy Mulholland was in action for Fremantle in their 30-37 win away to Richmond at Ikon Park in Melbourne on Friday afternoon. Starting at half-foward, the Forkhill footballer finished the game with 8 disposals (4 kicks & 4 handballs) and 1 mark.
The Dockers in tenth are one of six sides on 12 points with three wins and two losses for the season. Those teams are separated only by score percentage.
Donegal’s Tanya Kennedy played for the Sydney Swans in their 44-39 defeat to Carlton at Ikon Park on Friday night. The Robert Emmet’s clubwoman had a busy game in the Swans backline for a match tally of 18 disposals (7 kicks & 11 handballs), 4 marks, and 6 tackles.
The Swans in 13th spot have only won two of their first five matches of the season. Both of those wins were the club’s first ever victories in AFLW. The 2022 expansion side lost all of their matches last year in their debut season in the competition.
This time around, whilst their prospects of qualifying for the play-offs are mathematically still achievable, the Swans are unlikely to feature in a maiden finals campaign in season 2023.