Ireland’s brightest footballers are weighing county glory against professional certainty, and the numbers tell a powerful story. We dig into why AFL and AFLW clubs are no longer dabbling with Irish recruits but building pipelines, and how that shift is reshaping careers for women and men. With Mark O’Connor allowed to delay preseason for a club final, we explore the human side of the decision: loyalty, timing, and the practical realities of pursuing the top level abroad.
We break down the tiers that define the AFLW journey, from entry contracts to All-Australian leverage, and explain how day-to-day routines change when sport becomes the job. Then we trace the tougher men’s pathway, where rookie slots open doors but competition is fierce, and only a handful make the leap into a club’s best 22. Along the way, we compare professional support structures in Australia with the Irish amateur model—nutrition, psychology, recovery, and post-career planning that give athletes a clear arc and reduce the guesswork that often surrounds elite performance at home.
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Sport for Business is Ireland’s leading platform focused on the commercial, strategic and societal impact of sport. It connects decision-makers across governing bodies, clubs, brands, agencies and public institutions through high-quality journalism, events and insight. Sport for Business explores how sport drives economic value, participation, inclusion and national identity, while holding organisations to account on governance and sustainability.
Through analysis, storytelling and convening the sector, it helps leaders understand trends, share best practice and make better-informed decisions. Its work positions sport not just as entertainment, but as a vital contributor to Ireland’s social and economic fabric.
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