IRISH recruit Aimee Mackin will play her first AFLW match on Friday night, just a month after arriving in Australia.
Mackin’s nephew delivered the exciting news during Tuesday night’s team meeting, her whole family joining via zoom from Northern Ireland to make the surprise announcement.
A decorated gaelic footballer, Mackin signed with Melbourne in March, opting to switch codes and join her sister Blaithin at the Dees.
The 26-year-old plays for Armagh in the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and is considered one of the star players in the competition having received three All-Star selections and a Senior Players’ Player of the Year Award - the equivalent of the league’s Best and Fairest.
After arriving in August following the conclusion of the LGFA season, in which the Mackin sisters walked away with the Division Two title, the new Demon hit the ground running and was quick to pick up the rules and skills of her new-found sport.
Known for her speed and natural athletic ability, Mackin’s talent has impressed most recently during Melbourne’s match-sims.
The full line-up for Friday night’s match will be announced on Thursday at 6:20pm, as the Dees prepare to face the Hawks at Kinetic Stadium from 5:05pm.
