IRISH recruit Neasa Dooley has wasted little time making her mark with Brisbane, turning an unexpected opportunity on the other side of the world into a flourishing AFLW career.
Brisbane Lions coach Craig Starcevich had travelled to watch Lions player Jennifer Dunne line up for Dublin against Kildare at a Gaelic football match in Ireland.
Despite Dooley’s Kildare side suffering a heavy defeat that day, Starcevich saw enough to reach out afterwards.
“I was very lucky how mine (recruitment) came about,” Dooley said.
“I got a message from Craig afterwards to see if I was interested in playing AFL.”
That unexpected message eventually brought Dooley into one of the AFLW’s most successful environments, debuting in round two of her first AFLW season, travelling west to face Fremantle and announcing herself with two goals.
“It was very exciting,” she said.
“I was obviously very grateful and very thankful to get two goals on debut. I think that gave me a good boost and good confidence coming into the rest of the season.”
Dooley went on to kick 10 goals from 14 games in an impressive first campaign, quickly establishing herself as another attacking threat in a talent-laden Brisbane side.
Now into her second season, the unfamiliar has started to become familiar, although Dooley is far from considering herself the finished product.
“There are definitely new things still popping up, new terms, and obviously we’re trying to improve on some of the things that we needed to work on from last year,” she said.
Dooley has had no shortage of quality players around her during her introduction to Australian football, with Brisbane’s established stars having created an environment where high standards are expected, something Dooley believes has been invaluable for newcomers.
“That obviously makes it easier for the likes of myself coming in, or the new draftees, to be around such experienced girls and girls that set high standards,” she said.
For Dooley, one of the most memorable moments of her Australian journey came when she had the chance to represent Ireland against Australia earlier this year.
“To get the opportunity to play for your country, but also play on the far side of the world and represent your country, was huge,” she said.
For Dooley, the trajectory of the women’s game is just as exciting as Brisbane’s ambitions.
“We want to get to where the men are, and I think we’re on the right track.”
The Lions return home to Brighton Homes Arena to host the Giants with kickoff for 6.35pm on Saturday night.
