IT HAS been a different journey to an AFLW debut for new Fremantle forward Amy Mulholland.

One of 22 Irish players in the league this season, she wasn't recruited straight out of Ireland like most others. Instead, Mulholland made the trip to Perth from Armagh back in 2019 for work without considering a shift to Aussie rules.

"I was still playing Gaelic football [in Perth]. I came over for work reasons and just a one year working holiday visa, and then got lucky with work and got sponsorship.," Mulholland told womens.afl.

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"So, once I knew I was going to stay in Australia for a bit longer than the one year, in my second year I said I wanted to give AFL a go."

The timing was perfect, as Wembley amateur football club was starting its first women's team, which was just what Mulholland needed to dip her toe in the water.

"I thought, perfect opportunity. A lot of girls are going to be picking up this sport for the first time so that's the right place for me to go. And then I started with Wembley in the January and just fell in love with the sport and went through to win their flag in September."

From there, she stepped up to the WAFLW playing for Subiaco, but played just seven games for the season as she travelled back to Ireland for her sister's wedding. It was enough, however, to catch the eye of Dockers recruiters, as she went on to be taken with pick 83 at the draft.

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"To be honest, I thought my chances of getting drafted were pretty slim, given that I just didn't get to give a good year at the WAFLW that I would have liked to have," said Mulholland.

It was friend - and now on field rival - Aisling McCarthy who supported her through the draft process.

"[Aisling] knew what the process was, and she was like, 'No, I actually want to get around you for this and be there because I understand how special it is'. I hadn't told many people and my family were watching on from back home.

"It was just myself and Aish and my cousin in the house. And yeah, we were just watching through, and I think as the evening went on, I just felt like not it's not going to happen. It's not going to happen."

Fellow Wembley player Megan Kauffman was selected late in the evening by Fremantle with pick 77 - "it gave us that bit of a lift" - and six picks later Mulholland got the call up.

"It's been amazing since, honestly. It's the biggest opportunity that's ever come my way."

But it hasn't been without sacrifices. Committing to the club has meant missing some key milestones back home in Ireland.

"Today my best friend is actually getting married, and I was supposed to be bridesmaid," Mulholland admitted.

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"So, it's these things where these huge opportunities come with some consequences that you have to give up. I was due to be home in Ireland for the wedding today, but I've come off the back of this (practice match) win and it's reminded me what opportunity I have in front of me, and I need to take it with both hands and doesn't come around too often to too many girls."

But the compromises and hard work has been worthwhile, being welcomed into the Fremantle fold and particularly fellow Irishwomen Aine Tighe and Orlagh Lally – and it is alongside the pair that Mulholland will make her debut.

"(Tighe has) been a massive help to me and obviously being that key forward, just bringing me along, teaching me the structure and always giving advice on the field and training and in the first practice game last weekend. And she kept me right the whole game and I just felt that bit of security when she she's around, her voice.

"She's a big presence and great girl."