The Brisbane Lions have confirmed the signing of Kildare’s Neasa Dooley on a two-year international rookie contract.

An All-Ireland intermediate championship winner with the Lilywhites last year, the 23-year-old is the latest ladies football star to join an AFLW club. She becomes the fifth Irish Lion, joining Orla O’Dwyer and Jennifer Dunne on the AFLW list and Conor McKenna and Darragh Joyce on the AFL list.

“I’m really looking forward to being a part of the Lions team next season,” she said.

“It’s been a dream of mine for some time now to go play in Australia so to get to experience that with a top team like Brisbane is going to be a surreal moment for me.

“I’ve heard nothing but good things about the club and the culture built around the team.

“I’m really excited to get over there for pre-season, meet my teammates and coaches and try my best to hit the ground running and enjoying every moment of it.”

Lions AFLW Senior coach Craig Starcevich commented: “We are really excited to bring Neasa onboard next season and she’ll add to our already very proud Irish contingent across both the women’s and men’s programs,” Starcevich said.

“Her willingness to break lines, take the game on, and her strong kicking skills are areas which excites us as a coaching group and definitely something we look for from the playing group.

“She’ll be a great addition to our group, and with Orla and Jen now established in Australia, we are sure that the transition should be smooth.”

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