Australia overcame spirited early resistance from Ireland to win 13.13 (91) to 6.5 (41) in the inaugural women's Australian rules international held on Saturday, August 1st, 2026, at North Sydney Oval. The match was played before a capacity crowd of 9,017, who witnessed thrilling and physical gameplay.
A decisive burst of six consecutive goals by Australia either side of half-time propelled the home team to their convincing win. Despite Ireland's strong goal-kicking accuracy in the first half, kicking 5.0 to Australia's 5.6, they could not maintain the momentum against a polished Australian side.
The home team dominated the physical contest, tallying 35 more contested possessions. Ebony Marinoff led Australia with 25 possessions, followed by Ash Riddell and Nina Morrison with 21 each. For Ireland, Erika O'Shea topped the possession count with 21, with captain Orla O'Dwyer contributing 19.
Australian captain and North Melbourne star Jasmine Garner was named player of the match. Ireland's Vikki Wall, from County Meath, made a notable impact in the final quarter with a strong bump that dispossessed Australia's Ella Roberts, setting up an attack.
The match marked a significant milestone in women's Australian rules football, showcasing the sport's growing international appeal.
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