In Richmond’s Round 7 clash against Carlton, Ana Mulholland made her much-anticipated debut, making her just the second Irish-born player to pull on the yellow and black.
Mulholland grew up playing Gaelic football, developing elite speed and ball skills, that were on full display on Friday.
The 22-year-old finished with 10 disposals and two marks in her debut, proving to have an impact at the elite level.
Mulholland joined Richmond’s ‘In Their Words’ podcast earlier this year, before her debut, to reflect on her move to Australia and how she has settled in at the Club.
“I’ve never lived away from home before, and being so far from home is tough. Leaving family and friends and the sport that I love back home and just trying to adapt to a new sport, it feels like I'm learning how to walk again,” Mulholland admitted.
“It’s all quite new, but I’m still enjoying it so much, and it’s probably just the ball and the skills and being away from home that have been the toughest adjustments.”
Mulholland has quickly adapted to the demands of professional sport, a challenge she has welcomed since joining the Swinburne Centre.
“I didn’t really realise what a professional environment really looked like until I landed at the Club,” Mulholland said.
“When you think of a professional sport, you just think about the training, but there is so much more that goes into the recovery, and all the meetings that you have, and even the connection off the field too is so important.
“The professional environment is a big change from what I’m used to back home.”
Ana’s parents, Stephen and Teresa Mulholland, made the long trip from Ireland to IKON Park just to see their daughter debut, an unforgettable moment that the Mulholland family will cherish forever.
“It was a fantastic experience,” Stephen said.
“Great to be back here again and great to see Ana on her debut. There were a few times she had the ball, and I thought she didn’t do too bad.
“The game moves faster than Gaelic football, but when you get into it, it’s enjoyable. I didn’t fully appreciate how big it is in Australia. I think it’s brilliant.”
