Two new Irish recruits will join the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos for the upcoming AFLW season after Vikki Wall and Erika O’Shea signed with the club.
The pair come into the program off the back of strong backgrounds in Gaelic football, with both impressing in the 2021 season for Meath and Cork respectively.
Wall comes into the side as one of the premier Gaelic players in Ireland with Meath. The 24-year-old led the side to an All-Ireland title in 2021 and was named as the Footballer of the Year.
AFLW talent and performance manager Rhys Harwood said Wall was a significant addition the squad.
"Vikki is a player we've been keen to get to North Melbourne for a while, and she obviously had a great deal of interest from AFLW clubs. We're delighted that she's committed to playing at North," Harwood said.
"Vikki is a highly credentialed player whose work-rate and desire set her apart. We've been really impressed with her power and speed, as well as the intensity and physicality she plays with.
"The impact she has on games with Meath is outstanding, her ability to create attacking opportunities and break the game open in Gaelic are significant. She has a number of assets we think will allow her to become a highly impactful player in AFLW."
O’Shea has quickly become one of the most exciting young talents in Gaelic football in her first two years playing at senior level and was named as an All-Star this past season.
The 19-year-old has shown strong potential in the defensive side of the game in her homeland, Harwood believes her talents can lend themselves to a multitude of positions in AFLW.
"We've been really impressed with the traits and impact Erika has shown with Cork. Her speed, agility and ability to cover the ground stand out, as well as her capacity to find a balance between defending and attacking in Gaelic and we think her attributes will give her scope to play through a variety of positions for us," Harwood said.
"At just 19 years of age, Erika has plenty of upside and is a player who we feel can grow with us over a period of time. She can’t wait to arrive in Melbourne and begin her journey.
"Erika’s work ethic and drive to get the best out of herself will serve her well as she transitions across to AFLW. To have achieved an All-Star team selection at her age is particularly impressive, and speaks to her level of talent.
"We are delighted to have both Vikki and Erika come into our program, and we can’t wait to work with them over the coming seasons."
