SA’s rising Gaelic Football stars making a name for themselves in 2025
Merge soccer, footy and rugby and then watch these young South Aussies as they head toward superstar status playing a sport that looks just wild.
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It’s the international sport responsible for delivering some of Australia’s best sporting talents.
AFL Premiership stars Jim Stynes, Zach Tuohy and Tadhg Kennelly all herald from Ireland’s Gaelic Football – a brilliant, bizarre sport combining soccer, football and rugby.
With 15 players on each team, playing on a rectangular field with rugby posts and a soccer goal underneath, the Irish sport has now concreted its spot in SA’s sporting line-up.
Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of SA secretary Jimmy Donaghey said the future of the sport was in safe hands, with a catalogue of “exciting potential” showing off their talent.
“There’s so much room in South Australia for these young players coming through to get time to develop and mature,” Mr Donaghey said.
“It’s actually really hard to keep them in because every year we get young players coming through and they take to the game really well, but then they get signed up by a SANFL or SANFLW team. It’s a real challenge for us to keep them interested.”
From first-year players to players of the year, these are the young South Aussie Gaelic stars making waves with the round ball – kicking and punching (the ball) their way to stardom status.
Tom Dermody
Age: 18
Club: Western Ireland
A hard-running winger with elite skills, Tom Dermody fell in love with Gaelic after he was approached by a couple mates and asked to fill in for a one-off game.
Now, he’s a regular in the Western Ireland team, and widely regarded as one of the competition’s brightest stars having represented South Australia in the 2024 Australiasian Games.
“I just got hooked on Gaelic, and now I don’t think I could ever go without it,” Dermody said.
“Once I got involved I started playing more and more and was lucky enough to represent the state team over in Melbourne which was an awesome experience.
“I really love it. I’ve only been playing for two years but it’s already such a massive part of my life.”
Despite having a smaller frame than the adults he’s coming up against each week, the former North Adelaide junior footballer says he uses it to his advantage.
“There’s obviously bigger boys that are going to play a more marking style but for me, with a smaller body, I’ll try and run along the wing or use my body in other ways,” Dermody said.
“It’s one of those diverse sports where there’s something in it for everyone, whether it’s outside running and carrying the ball or being right in the packs and taking marks. That’s the good thing about Gaelic – there’s something for everyone, no matter what sort of body shape or level of strength you are.”
Lauren Frost
Age: 22
Club: Flinders O’Neill
Like Dermody, Lauren Frost was introduced to Gaelic through friends at her local soccer club after moving to Adelaide from Mount Gambier.
With a background in Aussie rules as well, Frost adapted quickly to the round ball and fell in love with the sport just as fast.
“To be honest, I love it so much,” she said. “It’s such a cool sport and I hope it’s able to grow even more in Australia.
“I feel like it’s one of those sports where, if you’re not amazing at it at first, it doesn’t really matter because you learn it so quickly.
“It’s a heaps good environment to be around. Everybody’s really supportive and it’s good fun, plus it keeps you pretty fit and healthy.”
Describing herself as the equivalent of an AFL ‘rover’ or ‘halfback’, Frost represented SA at the 2024 Australasian Games and was named an All Star after the Australasian Championships in Ireland.
Earlier this year she won the 2025 league and championship double in just her second full season, and is determined to continue striving for success.
“To be completely honest, if I had the option to only play one of soccer or Gaelic, I’d probably choose Gaelic,” Frost said.
Kiana Lee
Age: 23
Club: Western Ireland
SANFLW player Kiana Lee had “never heard” of Gaelic footy before she was asked to fill in for game.
Fast forward two years and the Norwood star credits it for her rise in fitness – putting her in good stead for the 2025 AFLW draft.
“One of my working points for this year was my fitness and I think it (Gaelic) definitely helps,” Lee said.
“Last year I trained on with Port Adelaide – I wasn’t a listed player but I trained with them – and I’ve had quite a few clubs get in contact with me. I just want to have another breakout year and try and get picked up.”
Joel Wigzell
Age: 17
Club: St Brendan’s
Joel took out the Australasian U17 tournament with SA in 2023.
Jake Wigzell
Age: 18
Club: St Brendan’s
Older brother of Joel, Jake has won two SA championships in 2022 and 2024.
Paddy McGroarty
Age: 16
Club: St Brendan’s
McGroarty won the Australasian U17 tournament with SA in 2023 and represented Australasia in the U17 tournament in Ireland in 2024.
Blake Thomas
Age: 23
Club: Flinders O’Neill
Blake won the Association U21 Player of the Year award in 2023.
Joel Thomas
Age: 19
Club: Flinders O’Neill
The younger brother of Blake, Joel took out the Association U18 Player of the Year award in 2024.
Parris Drakopolous
Age: 23
Club: Adelaide Shamrocks
Coming off her debut Gaelic season, Parris has turned heads for the Shamrocks with her natural sporting ability.
Liv Kelly
Age: 21
Club: Irish Blues
First-year player who made her mark for the Blues in 2024.
Isla Taylor
Age: 15
Club: Western Ireland
Promising young player looking to take Western Ireland back to the top of the ladder.
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