Big-stage Dooley wants to add to Lions’ Irish legacy
Murray Wenzel |
No stranger to the big stage, Brisbane’s Neasa Dooley wants a piece of what her fellow Irish imports have been selling.
Kildare’s first AFLW recruit debuted in round two and has played every game since for the Lions, who will host Carlton in Saturday’s preliminary final.
The two-time premiers, on an eight-game winning streak, are seeking a fourth-straight finals berth.
But they’ll need to reverse the result of a loss earlier this season to the high-flying Blues, who featured Irish pair Erone Fitzpatrick and Dayna Finn in last week’s win over Hawthorn.
Dooley is one of 39 Irish talents in the league, teammate Orla O’Dwyer one of the first Gaelic football stars to make the move and All-Australian squad member Jenn Dune winning a title in her 2023 debut year.
At the same time Dooley was dominating back home, scouted in the flesh by spectating Lions coach Craig Starcevich in the Leinster Championship before winning the All-Ireland Football Championship in front of 45,000 at Croke Park.
“That was pretty cool,” Dooley said of the biggest stage in Gaelic football.
“Plenty of Irish girls have come over and I’d been following a few … Orla was one of the first and Jenn, who had a really successful first year here.
“Then the opportunity came up.
“They’ve told me about the perks of playing in a grand final and that’s going to entice you.
“But it’s a game everyone wants to win and get to.”
The Irish All-Star was working full-time as a physiotherapist before her move but hopes her impressive rookie year will help secure an AFLW extension beyond her current two-year contract.
“To play a professional sport in a beautiful country, it’s not an opportunity you want to give up,” she said.
“So if you get the chance, you take it.
“We had a bit of a rocky start and Carlton have gotten better since (the round-three loss), but so have we.
“We’re peaking at the right time and want to test them again on our home ground.”
AAP
