\n North Sydney Oval is tipped to be the home of this year’s historic match between Australia and Ireland\n <\/p>\n
A general view of North Sydney Oval. Picture: AFL Photos<\/p>\n
NORTH Sydney Oval looms as the likely home for this year’s first ever AFLW Origin clash between Australia and Ireland.<\/p>\n
A number of potential locations in multiple states have been scouted for the blockbuster one-off fixture to be played later this year, with the 16,000-capacity North Sydney Oval now understood to be firming as the most likely location.<\/p>\n
As revealed by\u00a0AFL.com.au\u00a0last month, an agreement for Australia and Ireland to play in a first-ever Australian Football women’s fixture is edging closer with the clash now set to be held in July or August.<\/p>\n
There has been an expectation in AFLW circles that North Melbourne’s dual premiership winner Darren Crocker and Sydney’s Colin O’Riordan, the first ever Irish AFL\/AFLW senior coach, will be sounded out as potential coaches for the two sides.<\/p>\n
The Swans have played one-off games at North Sydney Oval across recent AFLW seasons and last year held their round one clash against Richmond at the venue.<\/p>\n
Given the July-August timeline for the AFLW Origin fixture, the game is tipped to make up part of the new-look pre-season schedule for sides ahead of the 2026 campaign officially starting the week of Monday, August 10.<\/p>\n
Erika O\u2019Shea, Vikki Wall, Amy Gavin Mangan and Blaithin Bogue pose for a photo after North Melbourne’s 2025 Grand Final win over Brisbane at Ikon Park. Picture: AFL Photos<\/p>\n