Cora Staunton enjoying her low profile while with GWS Giants

Cora Staunton tucks into a piece of toast ahead of another tough training session at GWS Giants headquarters and declares “I’m a nobody out here.”

• AFLW final destination? Genderless
• 50 most influential women in sport
• Perry: It’s for women to take the next step

CORA Staunton tucks into a piece of toast ahead of another tough training session at GWS Giants headquarters and declares “I’m a nobody out here.”

Yeah, right.

A more accurate description would be Irish sporting legend who boasts an award-winning autobiography and is the subject of a documentary that followed her every move in the early stages of her Australian adventure.

Oh, and then there’s the small matter of playing in front of almost 47,000 people in a Gaelic football final in Dublin and more titles than you could accommodate in a single trophy cabinet.

Cora Staunton. is kinda a big deal Pic: Phil Hillyard

So nipping out to buy a loaf of bread back home can be pretty tricky when you are so widely known. Not so much of a problem in Sydney … at least, not yet.

Raised in Carnacon, County Mayo, in the west of Ireland Staunton became the first international player to be signed to an AFLW outfit and she loves it here.

“GAA at home is very much a community feel,” the 37-year-old says. “You’re representing where you’re from so everyone knows everyone. We’ve won a huge amount at Carnacon – six premierships. We’re a very driven bunch.

Staunton settled quickly into AFLW. Pic: Getty Images

“I’ve been playing the game probably 25 years plus so I’m obviously well known at home. To come over here is a different challenge, just a different life. Life at home is probably a lot a more hectic. We work full time, our sport is amateur but you’re also asked to do a lot of stuff to promote the sport, whether training kids or giving talks.

“A documentary was done here on me (by Irish TV) and that was out in September. Then I released my autobiography. So it’s lovely to come out here, be yourself and just enjoy playing sport and trying to make yourself better.

“I’m a nobody out here. I have to try and work my way up the ladder. And the only way you can do that is on the training pitch and through performances.

“I also like to be a little bit anonymous and I like to do my talking on the pitch rather than off it.

The Giants player is a star back home. Pic: Phil Hillyard

Even has an autobiography.Pic: Richard Dobson

“None of these girls (teammates) know too much about my journey, even though some of them are reading the book now (titled Game Changer), but I came over here as a ‘nobody’ to them and that’s the way I like it. I like the fact I can concentrate on football and nothing else.”

Tonight against North Melbourne she will look to help the Giants build on last weekend’s narrow opening round defeat to Brisbane, a match in which Staunton bagged two goals and contributed 12 disposals.

“As a sportsperson, you love a challenge,” she said. “Picking up a whole new sport, it’s massive.

“Al (McConnell) is a phenomenal coach. I’ve learned so much from him in a year and a half.”

Yvonne Bonner’s arrival at the Giants means fresh Irish company for Staunton but she thinks there’s plenty more of her countrywomen to follow.

“It’s a huge opportunity,” she said. “Back home, like I said, we’re amateur, we don’t get paid. We’re not used to these professional setups and then you get to come to the other side of the world. It really is win-win.”

GWS GIANTS v NORTH MELBOURNE

Friday, February 8

Drummoyne Oval

7.15pm