Despite Richmond's loss to Fremantle in Western Australia over the weekend, coach Ryan Ferguson found positives in the performance of Irish debutant Aoibhin Cleary.

After a decorated Gaelic career, Cleary made her much-anticipated AFLW debut, seamlessly transitioning into the side, bringing her run and defensive pressure across the wing and half back. 

Cleary finished the game with 12 disposals, four marks, one tackle, with 248 meters gained to cap off her successful first hit-out.

“Aoibhin Cleary was a shining light,” Ferguson said post-match.

“From start to finish, I thought she did her job so well. She competed, and some of her character traits just shone through.

“As the game wore on, I thought she just got better and better. She got a feel for the game and was still running on top of the ground, and her GPS metrics, I’m sure she probably blew that up.

“I thought she was one player that was really running out the game strong and did exactly what we asked of her.

“Her teammates loved having her out there, so that was a real win for us.”

The 26-year-old was grateful for the experience to run out on an AFLW field for the first time, praising the Club and her teammates for helping her transition into the sport.

“Honestly, it was just an honour to get the opportunity to play alongside this group of girls, and they are an amazing group,” Cleary told Richmond Media.

“Every single person at the Club, players and staff, have been so good to me since I stepped foot in Australia, so I was just so excited to get that opportunity.

“There have been so many people who have been so good to me, and a lot of people who have put a lot of hours of work in.

“In particular, Sarah (Hosking), who is my housemate and she has been so good to me.

“She is the reason that it has been so easy to settle in over here, and I’m extremely grateful for her.”

Richmond now turns its attention to the final game of the season against Gold Coast at IKON Park this Saturday.

Cleary hopes to take learnings from her first hit-out and continue to build on her skills heading into this week’s clash.

“I think just the pace of the game and chaoticness, you can’t switch off for a second, so it’s definitely a higher level than I’ve played at before,” Cleary said.

“Just the speed of the game and the intensity of the game, but it was really enjoyable.

“I think we will just keep focusing on us and working on our strengths, and finish on a high and just keep pushing.”