AFLW 2023: Irish Crows Yvonne Bonner and Niamh Kelly chat finals and friendship

Most Adelaide players assumed Yvonne Bonner and fellow Irishwoman Niamh Kelly were friends when the former joined the Crows. They weren’t close then, but they certainly are now.

Adelaide's Irish AFLW player Niamh Kelly and Yvonne Bonner

When Yvonne Bonner joined Adelaide for this season, many of her new teammates assumed that she was friends with fellow Irishwoman Niamh Kelly.

While they knew of each other, the two weren’t really close.

They are now.

“When I first landed a lot of the girls asked if we knew each other before (from Ireland) and we were like no we just knew of each other from playing against each other,” Bonner said.

“But we get along so well, we have her over for dinner and she has us over for dinner and she has shown us around Adelaide.

“It has just been great having that person from home and settling us in Adelaide.”

Since coming to the Crows for the 2023 season, Bonner has played seven games for her new club.

While she hadn’t played AFLW for some years after two seasons with GWS in 2019 and 2020, the transition back into the game was a smooth one for the 36-year-old.

Yvonne Bonner joined the Crows this season. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)

“I always kept my fitness up and I understood the game from playing it previously so I wasn’t just standing there looking for someone to do something before I reacted,” she said.

“It was an easy enough transition to the crows and they are such an elite and professional set-up.

“It is easy to play with such great players around you.”

Kelly has had a career-best season in 2023.

On the wing for the Crows she has averaged 19 disposals and just over two tackles a game as she presses for All-Australian honours.

In her second season at the Crows after coming to Adelaide from West Coast, the 28-year-old said shoulder surgery and staying in South Australia during the off-season had contributed to this.

“I’ve just really enjoyed it. In the off-season I just really wanted to improve on a couple of things with my skills and getting the shoulder right after having surgery,” she said.

“So I’ve been putting in the hard work and being in Adelaide has meant I have been able to get to know the girls a lot more as well I’m really enjoying my footy and I think it has translated back onto the field.”

Adelaide's Irish AFLW players Niamh Kelly and Yvonne Bonner. Picture: Supplied.

It has been key in the Crows claiming the minor premiership in 2023, when they were widely expected to fall away after years of dominating the competition.

This came despite the Crows having to deal with vice-captain Sarah Allen’s significant time out with a hamstring injury and Najwa Allen’s hefty suspension.

“I think we have a really connected group here, everyone works hard and there have been a few opportunities for some of the younger girls to step up and they have had a really good season,” she said.

“Even in the backline when Sarah Allen and then when Naj was out there has been a chance for the young girls to step up and they have done so it has been a really good environment to be in and be a part of.

“Everyone is working so hard and very connected and I think that translates onto the field.”

Kelly has enjoyed a splendid season. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

On Saturday the quest to regain the AFLW premiership will enter a new phase as the Crows take on Brisbane in a qualifying final at Norwood Oval.

The Lions have had the better of the Crows in recent games, winning the last three, but Kelly said Adelaide had learnt a lot from its last loss to Brisbane.

“Brisbane are always a huge fight for us, they always bring a huge level of pressure and they are a fit team so we will be looking to put in a good performance,” she said.

“We had a loss against them earlier in the year so we will be well prepared.

“We need to bring a high level of pressure, play to our own strengths as well.

“If we can match that pressure and bring more it will be a good contest.”

Originally published as AFLW 2023: Irish Crows Yvonne Bonner and Niamh Kelly chat finals and friendship