Ireland is home to some serious football talent, with players competing within the Ladies Gaelic Football Association attracting offers from around the world.
One country that can’t seem to get enough of the Emerald Isle’s homegrown talent is Australia, with several Gaelic footballers heading Down Under to play in the AFLW from late August to November each year.
One of those players is Meath star Vikki Wall, who is currently in Australia playing for North Melbourne Women’s.
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While Ireland is the breeding ground for incredible athleticism in Gaelic football, players aren’t able to focus solely on it as it’s an amateur sport, whereas, in Australia athletes have the opportunity to play professionally.
Vikki opened up about why so many LGFA footballers spend part of their year in Australia competing - and it’s thanks to the professionalism of amateur sports in Ireland.
She told RSVP Live: “In my own experience, anyone you speak to over in Australia speaks very highly of all of the girls that go across. I think what they’re surprised by, from a GAA perspective, is the level of professionalism that people come across with from an amateur - especially in how everyone applies themselves.
“There is that Irish-ism in people where they downplay themselves. We could weed that out a little bit more to give yourself a pat on the back and acknowledge when you do something well. In Australia, that has to be forced out of the Irish girls a little bit more."
She continued: “We’re a fairly friendly country as a whole, so going over and being able to adapt and immerse ourselves in a group is 90% of the battle, that’s a skill in itself regardless of your athletic and football abilities. That plays a huge part in the want and desire for Irish players.”
Her achievements back in Ireland with Meath LGFA haven’t gone unnoticed, with many young aspiring footballers sending kind messages to Vikki.
“My mam is actually a primary school teacher so we had some fun receiving letters over in Australia when they had to write to someone - I got a few,” she shared. “I was under stern warnings to reply to them all.
“I have received some really good letters from young girls and boys. For me, it’s unbelievable that someone took the time out of their day to write to someone that they don’t really know personally and to ask questions - it’s a complete privilege."
Vikki added: “I feel like being involved with Meath during that time and seeing the effect it had even on our local GAA club, as young girls started taking up sport, and the county - that is more fulfilling than anything else. That alone is enough in itself and to be somewhat part of that was unreal.”
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