Meath manager Eamonn Murray says he expects that Vikki Wall will make the move to the AFLW later this year. Though, he cannot understand why she would want to play the "dreadful" Aussie rules.
"Of course that’s going to happen," Murray said when asked if Meath players like Wall and Emma Duggan will attract the attention of ALFW teams.
"That is going to happen, yeah. I’d say we’re losing Vikki now in September and I don’t know how many more we’ll lose.
"I don’t know why you’d want to play that sport because it’s dreadful stuff to watch. I can’t understand it. There’s no skill at all."
Wall was named TG4 Senior Players' Player of the Year for her performances in Meath's momentous All-Ireland victory last year. This weekend, she will line out for Meath in the Lidl Ladies Football League Division 1 final against Donegal.
19 March 2022; Vikki Wall of Meath in action against Fiona McHale of Mayo during the Lidl Ladies Football National League Division 1 Semi-Final match between Mayo and Meath at St Tiernach's Park in Clones, Monaghan. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
The 23-year-old said last year that she'd had "a few conversations" about joining an AFLW side but that a move was "still up in the air".
"I did the combine in 2019," she said.
"I went over for just four days. It’s definitely something I have an interest in."
Murray added that Wall would be a "huge" loss to Meath.
"Can’t do anything about it, but that’s the problem we have," he said.
"She’s getting a good contract I’m sure over there, plus she’s good at talking Irish and all that stuff. I don’t begrudge it to her like."
Last month, AFLW clubs approved an August start date for the new season. That would leave Irish players, who were previously able to play in the AFLW and also the All-Ireland Ladies Football Championship due to convenient timing, with a dilemma.
This year's All-Ireland Championship is set to conclude on July 31st. Training for the AFLW season would begin several weeks before its August start.
Picture credits: Benjamin Crone / Shutterstock.com
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