Irish clash has shot at the SCG

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, June 23, 2026

The inaugural AFL Women’s representative match between Australia and Ireland is currently set for August 1 at North Sydney Oval, but organizers are considering moving the game to the larger Sydney Cricket Ground depending on ticket sales. This decision highlights growing interest in women’s AFL and the potential for future matches to be held in bigger venues to accommodate increasing fan demand.

Plans to host the inaugural Australia versus Ireland AFL Women’s representative match at Sydney’s North Sydney Oval remain flexible, with discussions ongoing about relocating the event to the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The game is currently scheduled for Saturday, August 1, at North Sydney Oval, but the final decision on the venue may depend largely on ticket sales, which opened recently.

North Sydney Oval has a seated capacity of around 8,000, with additional standing room for up to 2,000 spectators on the grass areas. Should demand for tickets exceed expectations and sales outpace available space quickly, the league may consider moving the fixture to the SCG, a larger venue without any scheduled men’s Australian football games that weekend. This option remains viable as the SCG is still available and has not been formally ruled out.

Sydney’s Chloe Molloy, selected to represent Australia in the upcoming match, expressed optimism about the growth potential of the women’s game and the possibility of using bigger stadiums in the future. Molloy noted strong attendance figures could prompt organizers to upgrade the venue to the SCG for subsequent matches.

The representative game marks a significant milestone in AFL Women’s football as it brings together Australian and Irish players in an international contest. Organizers are closely monitoring fan interest and ticket sales as key indicators in assessing the best environment for the match, balancing the intimacy of the boutique North Sydney Oval with the larger capacity and profile offered by the SCG.

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