Richmond's first AFLW Irish recruit, Aoibhin Cleary, made her debut last Saturday against Fremantle after an impressive string of performances in scrimmages and training.
The 26-year-old defender, hailing from Donaghmore-Ashbourne, Ireland, has made a seamless transition from Gaelic football to AFLW since joining the Tigers earlier this year.
“It’s a funny story,” Cleary laughed on this week’s Moments That Make Us podcast.
“A few weeks ago, I was out for dinner with Sarah and Jess Hosking, Grace (Egan), and Coxy (Katelyn Cox), and we were chatting about manifesting and putting good energy out there. We all held hands at the table and took turns saying what we were manifesting, and I said, ‘I’m manifesting Perth’.
“A few weeks later, I ended up getting to go to Perth for my debut.”
Reflecting on her first game, Cleary said it was “a bit of a blur”, but one moment stood out.
“Honestly, everything happened so quickly, but I just remember being out there and really enjoying it,” Cleary said.
“The first ball I got and kicked inside 50, that probably stands out. It just helped me settle into the game and calm the nerves a bit.
“Everyone really got around me. It was so nice. There was just constant encouragement and people telling me where to be. It was just so helpful.”
Cleary, who captained Meath in Ireland’s Gaelic National Football League (NFL), debuted for the Club at just 16 and led her county to back-to-back All-Ireland Senior Championships in 2021 and 2022.
In February 2025, she signed a two-year deal with Richmond and has been preparing for this moment ever since.
“It all came through my manager at home, and within two weeks I’d spoken to Trent (Mosbey), Kate (Sheahan), and a few of the coaches,” Cleary explained.
“The offer came soon after, and I took it up pretty quick. I’m so grateful looking back now.”
Cleary’s parents, Anne and Declan, who have been visiting from Ireland for the past few weeks, were also on hand for her debut.
“Mum had spoken to one of the staff members about coming in to watch training, without telling me first”, Cleary said.
“I told them to be subtle if they came in, and then they walked straight through the front door during our meeting. I was like, are you kidding me? This couldn't be less subtle.
“Mum was loving it, doing all her dramatics up the front, and dad was just standing there hating every second!”
To help bridge the gap before arriving in Australia, the Tigers developed a remote training and education program that included weekly Zooms, match reviews, and skill sessions.
“It made a huge difference,” Cleary said.
“Even though I was still in Ireland finishing the Meath season, I felt really connected to the Club. When I arrived, I already knew so many of the players and staff. It made the transition much easier.
“Even from being all the way over there, I knew it was a really good culture and really good group. It was comforting, knowing that I was coming over to that.”
Cleary’s last major outing before her move was captaining Meath in the All-Ireland Final at Croke Park in front of more than 48,000 fans.
“It was incredible, the highest level you can get to in our sport,” she said.
“The two weeks leading up were hectic. We had media, logistics, and I was preparing to move to the other side of the world.”
Transitioning from Gaelic football to AFLW has its challenges, Cleary admitted.
“People say they’re similar games, but the basic skills are so different,” she said.
“The ball’s unpredictable, so your reactions and timing need to change completely. Kicking has been the toughest. At home, you don’t think about how you drop the ball, but here it’s everything.”
With the off-season approaching, Cleary hopes to explore Australia after a whirlwind first season.
“I’m very last minute,” she laughed.
“But I definitely want to see Sydney properly, head up to the Gold Coast, maybe Brisbane and of course, see a bit more of Perth.”
Richmond hosts Gold Coast this Saturday in the final game of the season at IKON Park. Buy your tickets here.
