Kirralee Costelloe joins her Panthers’ teammate Amy Mill in North Qld Aussie Rules team

As Panthers’ Kirralee Costelloe prepares to make her North Queensland debut this weekend, she reveals the novel way in which she was first introduced to the game she never thought she’d play.

Rockhampton Panthers' player Kirralee Costelloe will represent North Queensland in the annual women's Aussie rules representative clash. Photo: ImageBox sportsphotography

In a roundabout way, Mother Nature played a hand in unearthing one of Central Queensland’s Aussie Rules talents.

Rockhampton Panthers’ Kirralee Costelloe is excited but equally nervous as she prepares to debut for North Queensland in the annual intrastate rep clash on the Gold Coast this weekend.

She is one of eight players from the AFL Capricornia competition who earned selection in the women’s and men’s NQ teams.

Costelloe said she was grateful to be taking the field this time after being named in the squad for the past couple of years.

“Going down south and competing with girls who have played for many more years will be a challenge but I’m just going to have to back myself and hope for the best,” she said.

The 22-year-old explained that she got her first taste of Aussie Rules, albeit a little reluctantly, at the age of 15.

Kirralee Costelloe (back row, third from left) receives her Australian touch jersey alongside fellow Central Queensland players.

A gifted touch player, she would go on to play for the Australian under-18 team in the Trans-Tasman Series in 2020, as well as the Indigenous All Stars in 2022.

But the floods in Rockhampton in 2017 swamped the city’s touch headquarters, denying the teen talent the chance to play her favourite sport.

“I never thought of playing Aussie Rules because I’m not really one to love the contact,” she said.

“One of mum’s netball friends, Laura Jonassen, was like ‘Get Kiz to come and try out for AFL’.

“I was only 15 and there was no youth girls comp when I started so I was straight into the women’s with no experience.

“It was pretty scary but I got stuck right in there and I’ve loved it ever since.”

Amy Mill, pictured in last year’s intrastate clash, will line up for a third time with North Queensland. Picture: Brendan Radke

Costelloe started in the forward pocket but quickly found her place on the wing, where the explosive speed and agility that made her a weapon in touch have made her a force in Aussie Rules.

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She is looking forward to performing on the rep stage alongside her Panthers teammate Amy Mill, who is playing for NQ for the third consecutive year.

“Amy’s been a really good role model for me for the last eight years since I started with Panthers,” Costelloe said.

“Having her by my side when we go away is going to be really special and I think I’ll feel more confident having her on the field with me as well.”

Kirralee Costelloe is excited about her rep duty this weekend. Photo: ImageBox sportsphotography

Costelloe also acknowledged the three other AFL Capricornia women selected - Rachel Lawson and Leanne Foley from Glenmore Bulls and Danielle Fenwick from BITS Saints.

“We didn’t find out who had made the team until it got announced publicly and reading the list made me so happy and means a lot,” she said.

“I’m proud of every single Central Queensland girl who has made it and I know they’re going to play really well and do our region proud.”

Yeppoon Swans duo Jayden Pain and Leigh Cossens and Glenmore’s Timothy Higgins will fly the flag in the men’s game.

The North Queensland versus South Queensland games will be played at Bond University Oval on Saturday, with the women at 4.15pm and the men at 6.15pm.