Pride, respect and praise in red letter day for women’s football

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, August 1, 2026

Leading women’s Australian rules football players, including multiple AFLW premiership winners, gathered in Sydney to build team unity ahead of an international match against Ireland on Saturday. The event highlights the growing prominence and global expansion of the women’s game, with innovative team-building approaches emphasizing personal connection as a foundation for performance.

In a significant milestone for women’s Australian rules football, some of the sport’s most decorated players gathered in Sydney on Thursday night ahead of the upcoming international clash on Saturday. The meeting brought together athletes boasting a combined total of 25 AFLW premierships and 52 all-Australian selections, marking a historic assembly of talent in the women’s game.

Held at a hotel near Hyde Park, the event fostered camaraderie and mutual respect among players through an exchange of handwritten letters expressing pride, admiration, and personal reflections. These notes, passed between prominent figures such as Monique Conti, Jasmine Garner, Georgie Prespakis, Sophie Conway, Tyanna Smith, and Chloe Molloy, underscored the growing spirit and unity within the sport.

The initiative was inspired in part by observations made during the men’s State of Origin game earlier this year. Former AFLW star and current assistant coach Daisy Pearce, who will coach alongside Darren Crocker on Saturday, described a marked contrast in how men’s and women’s teams approach connection and preparation. Pearce noted that while men’s teams tend to bond through football training before engaging in deeper conversations, women’s teams often establish connection as a gateway to football performance. This insight led to the decision to begin team activities with players sharing personal stories and appreciations as a way to build trust and strengthen team dynamics.

Pearce reflected on her own journey in women’s football, recalling how 20 years ago she fundraised by selling chocolates to help form the first Australian women’s team for the 2003 international rules series against Ireland. Despite early challenges—including unfamiliarity with the purely Gaelic format and on-field disputes—the experience was a pivotal moment for the sport’s development. This Saturday, Pearce will stand opposite Irish women’s football icon Cora Staunton, who now chairs selectors for the Ireland team.

Ireland’s squad enters the match with strong national pride, with captain Orla O’Dwyer describing the event as a reunion for players and a motivation for others to take up representative football. The international fixture signals both nations’ progress in expanding opportunities and recognition for women in Australian rules football and provides a platform for the sport’s continued growth on a global stage.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.