AFLW finals news: Aisling McCarthy ready to impact her first finals campaign amid career-best season with Fremantle

Aisling McCarthy could only watch AFLW finals with envy during her time as an Eagle. As ELIZA REILLY writes, the Irishwoman is ready to show she’s born for the big stage.

Aisling McCarthy has waited seven seasons and 53 games to play her first AFLW final.

With an appetite for contested footy, a booming kick and blistering speed capable of splitting open any contest, it’s as if McCarthy was custom-built for November.

So you can trust that the reborn midfielder will rise to the occasion in her debut finals bout against Essendon.

“It was really nice to come into the last round of the season knowing that it won’t be your final game of footy,” McCarthy told CODE Sports after Fremantle’s win over the Western Bulldogs.

“Every year so far, I’ve known I wasn’t going to be playing finals and you were facing six months off before pre-season.

“I’m delighted that my move has been worthwhile. Making finals is really exciting personally but also for the team, it’s been a couple of years since we’ve played finals so it’s great that we’re getting reward for all of the hard work we’ve put out there on the field.

Aisling McCarthy on the move for Fremantle.

“The pressure is going to go up even more but I think we do play quite a contested brand of footy and we’ll be well-drilled to bring it next week.”

McCarthy, 28, has enjoyed a career-best season in her first year at the Dockers. The Irishwoman started her career at the Western Bulldogs in 2019, spending two seasons at Whitten Oval before joining West Coast.

In her first season at the Eagles, McCarthy finished runner-up in West Coast’s Club Champion Award. She finished second again in season seven. But in 2023, McCarthy was relegated down West Coast’s midfield pecking order as the Eagles prioritized getting games and experience into youth.

“It probably pushed out a few older girls like myself who had to play more of a defensive role because we weren’t getting the ball forward much,” McCarthy said.

At the crossroads after four seasons with the Eagles, McCarthy wrestled with returning home to Ireland to play Gaelic football and pursuing a move to a third AFLW club.

Aisling McCarthy puts the icing on the cake! 🍰#AFLWCatsFreopic.twitter.com/ddcprS2WGJ

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 1, 2024

The Dockers had previously expressed considerable interest in McCarthy. This time though, she knew it was a move she had to make if she was going to revive her career.

West Coast traded McCarthy to Fremantle in exchange for forward Roxy Roux and a second round pick. The Eagles then on-traded that selection to Gold Coast for experienced midfielder Alison Drennan.

Drennan, you’d suggest, will comfortably finish in the top five of West Coast’s Club Champion award. Roux missed the first part of the year with a broken hand but has kicked just one goal in six games. While McCarthy is on track for All-Australian recognition and her first best and fairest if she can pip Mim Strom.

McCarthy enjoys a goal. Picture: Michael Klein

McCarthy says she’s thrilled to have her season extended into finals.

Not only is Fremantle winning the McCarthy, Drennan and Roux trade but the recruit-of-the-year contender also owes her career-best season in part to the Eagles after an honest exit meeting.

“I worked really hard in the off-season on what I needed to improve on,” McCarthy said. “I took feedback from what the Eagles told me in my exit meeting and I got fitter and stronger.

“I think that my strengths really complement the group here. Mim as our ruck gives us first use every week. I also think Lisa Webb and the coaching staff have instilled a lot of confidence in me and let me know what my strengths are.

Aisling McCarthy knew it was through as soon as it came off the boot 💪#AFLWGiantsFreopic.twitter.com/Ya4IsckoMF

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 26, 2024

“I lost a bit of confidence last year and had to search for what I could bring to the team. But I have a lot of clarity in my role so I can go out and execute. It’s nothing to do with stats. It’s about pressure and my attack on the footy.”

McCarthy couldn’t have time her arrival at the Dockers any better after four-time best and fairest Kiara Bowers announced that she was pregnant and would sit out 2024. Lisa Webb has handed McCarthy the keys to the midfield and she’s rewarded them with a return to finals.

“I think (Aish) just reads it really well off the tap but also her willingness to accept the centre square bounce structures that we come up with and she just gets to work,” Webb said. “She does her homework, she reads the game really well and she can adapt on the fly so she’s got great experience in that.

“The way she does that helps the other players around her as well. She’s pretty hard to move past, to be honest.“