AFLW 2023: The rise of Gold Coast’s Irish recruit Niamh McLaughlin

Just weeks after landing in Australian for the first time, Gaelic football star Niamh McLaughlin will make her AFLW debut for Gold Coast – and it’s been some journey.

Just three weeks after stepping foot on Australian soil for the first time, Irish import Niamh McLaughlin will make her AFLW debut for Gold Coast against Carlton on Saturday.

The 2022 GAA Ladies’ Player of the Year has been given a licence to thrill by coach Cameron Joyce and the speedster looms as a major point of difference for the Suns this season.

McLaughlin, 30, had barely put boot to Sherrin before arriving at Suns training earlier this month and has just two practice matches to her name ahead of Saturday’s debut at Ikon Park.

“The club had sent me over a couple of footballs earlier in the summer so I had a bit of a kick around but nothing really structured or anything, just because I was in my own season so that was the priority,” McLaughlin told this masthead.

“I didn’t have an experience at all in the game. I’m still learning, but the past few weeks have been great.”

Niamh McLaughlin will make her AFLW debut this weekend. Picture: Albert Perez/AFL Photos

McLaughlin will be unleashed across halfback for the Suns and her incredible run and dash will be a valuable asset as the club puts finals on the agenda this season.

“I think probably my running and trying to help offensively will be where I can make a bit of an impact though obviously trying to defend will be my first focus,” she said.

“There’s definitely a lot of similarities between Gaelic football and AFL. I think Gaelic is a bit more of a running game and I’m hoping I can bring that to my game here.

“There’s still plenty for me to learn and I’m still probably not 100 per cent sure on a lot of things, but I have enough at the minute to get by.

“(My teammates) have been very patient with me and Cam Joyce has been great, he’s not thrown too much at me.

“He told me, ‘I don’t want to take away from your game’ and that’s helped me to not over think things too much.”

Gold Coast will blood four debutantes on Saturday with McLaughlin joined by Academy products Alana Gee and Darcie Davies as well as Bond Uni recruit Meara Girvan.

The Suns have never won an AFLW season opener but head to Melbourne confident they can kickstart their campaign on a positive note against the Blues.

“It’s a big move coming over here and I did feel a bit anxious but for me it couldn’t have been easier – everyone has been brilliant,” McLaughlin said.

“When you’re relaxed it helps you play better and I hope I can contribute in a positive way for the team and help them reach the finals this year for the first time.”

Originally published as AFLW 2023: The rise of Gold Coast’s Irish recruit Niamh McLaughlin