TG4’s Aussie Rules na mBan returns to screens this month, with the 2025 AFLW season set to feature a record-breaking 39 Irish players – the most in the competition’s history.

They will play across 13 of the 18 teams involved this season, with Carlton and Fremantle having five Irish players each, and Adelaide and North Melbourne four each.

The station will once again deliver weekly deferred coverage of two matches from the Australian Football League Women’s competition, starting on Saturday, 16 August, alongside Monday evening highlights at 8.00 pm as part of the GAA 2025 programme.

Among those lining out down under are well-established stars such as Orla O’Dwyer of Tipperary, the most capped Irish player in AFLW history, as well as a host of emerging talent, including Kayleigh Cronin, Kerry’s player of the match in last year’s All-Ireland football final, who is making her AFLW debut.

Also making the journey are Éilís O’Dowd and Sinéad Goldrick, fresh from lifting the Brendan Martin Cup with Dublin in last weekend’s TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.

The AFLW campaign kicks off on Friday, 16 August, with teams competing for a place in the Grand Final on Friday, 29 November.

TG4’s coverage begins that same weekend, starting with Geelong Cats v Kangaroos on Saturday at 5.15 pm, followed by Port Adelaide v Fremantle on Sunday at 5.15 pm. All matches will be available to watch on TG4 and TG4.ie.

TNT Sports will also have live coverage of selected matches each week.

This marks another strong commitment from TG4 to showcasing women’s sport and building connections between Irish players and audiences at home.

“This is a brilliant moment for the Irish-Australian sporting connection,” said Rónán Ó Coisdealbha, Head of Sport at TG4. “With more Irish players than ever involved in the AFLW, we’re delighted to bring their stories and performances into homes across the country.”

TG4’s Aussie Rules na mBan will continue each weekend throughout the season, with coverage enhanced by updates, highlights, and exclusive content shared via @SportTG4 across social media.

Here is the complete list of expected Irish players to feature in this year’s AFLW

Amy Boyle-Carr (Adelaide)
Kayleigh Cronin (Adelaide)
Grace Kelly (Adelaide)
Niamh Kelly (Adelaide)
Neasa Dooley (Brisbane)
Jennifer Dunne (Brisbane)
Orla O’Dwyer (Brisbane)
Maria Cannon (Carlton)
Dayna Finn (Carlton)
Erone Fitzpatrick (Carlton)
Síofra O’Connell (Carlton)
Aisling Reidy (Carlton)
Muireann Atkinson (Collingwood)
Kellyann Hogan (Collingwood)
Sarah Rowe (Collingwood)
Joanne Cregg (Fremantle)
Orlagh Lally (Fremantle)
Aisling McCarthy (Fremantle)
Amy Mulholland (Fremantle)
Aine Tighe (Fremantle)
Rachel Kearns (Geelong)
Kate Kenny (Geelong)
Aishling Moloney (Geelong)
Clara Fitzpatrick (Gold Coast)
Niamh McLaughlin (Gold Coast)
Grace Kos (GWS)
Eilish O’Dowd (GWS)
Aileen Gilroy (Hawthorn)
Aine McDonagh (Hawthorn)
Sinead Goldrick (Melbourne)
Blaithin Mackin (Melbourne)
Blaithin Bogue (North Melbourne)
Amy Gavin Mangan (North Melbourne)
Erika O’Shea (North Melbourne)
Vikki Wall (North Melbourne)
Aoibhin Cleary (Richmond)
Tanya Kennedy (Sydney)
Paris McCarthy (Sydney)
Julie O’Sullivan (Sydney)

 

Deferred full coverage of games on TG4 across first three rounds of action

| Sat 16 Aug | Round 1 | Geelong Cats v Kangaroos | GMHBA Stadium | 17:15 |
| Sun 17 Aug | Round 1 | Port Adelaide v Fremantle | Alberton Oval | 17:15 |
| Sat 23 Aug | Round 2 | Hawthorn v Carlton | Kinetic Stadium | 14:15 |
| Sun 24 Aug | Round 2 | Adelaide Crows v Geelong Cats | Unley Oval | 17:15 |
| Sat 30 Aug | Round 3 | GWS Giants v Kuwarna (Adelaide Crows) | Henson Park | 17:20 |
| Sun 31 Aug | Round 3 | Brisbane Lions v Carlton | Brighton Homes Arena | 17:20 |

 

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