By Michael McMullan

DONEGAL footballer Niamh McLaughlin made history this week when she became the first Irish player to captain an AFL club in any code.

McLaughlin was named as joint captain alongside Suns Academy graduate Lucy Single as the club prepare for their new season.

Speaking to Gaelic Life, McLaughlin said it was nice yet totally unexpected news as she faces into a third season, having missed just one game since her move to Australia.

The Suns begin life under new head coach Rhyce Shaw. As part of pre-season, the squad have been involved in leadership and culture meetings off the pitch, involving the playing and coaching group with direction also from their sports psychologist.

Over the last two weeks, players were asked to nominate players for the leadership group before being questions on their reasoning for the various selections.

It was then McLaughlin was given the “heads up” that she was in the running before then being named as joint captain.

“It was nice because, I suppose, it’s obviously nominated by your teammates and also obviously the staff,” said McLaughlin, who was named as LGFA Player of the Year by the players in 2022 for her exploits with Donegal.

“I just try to go about my business the way I usually would. I don’t really change and I suppose it’s just that thing of just trying to bring people along with you as well

“Your teammates voting for you, to have that trust in you as well is obviously really nice. It wasn’t necessarily expected on my part; it wasn’t something that I had thought about.

“For me as well, I’d just carry on the way I would normally whether it happened or not. Everyone’s been very supportive so hopefully we can push on with the season now as well.”

When informed this week she was the first Irish captain, across AFL and AFLW, McLaughlin played down the role as something to look back on.

As for now, it’s full steam ahead for the new season that begins in mid-August with an away opener against the West Coast Eagles in Perth.

“There’s a lot of Irish girls out there and I had a few messages from them, which is really nice,” McLaughlin added.

“I think we’re all quite supportive of each other out here and all the Irish girls are doing very well and I’m sure they’re bringing a lot of their experience that we have from home.”

On the footballing side of things, the Suns have given McLaughlin the flexibility of bringing what she had from her game back in Ireland.

“I came in quite late my first year and even last year and they sort of didn’t tie me down too much,” she said.

“They didn’t try to overburden me, they have let me play my game and then sort of topped it up where I needed to be or filled in the gaps where they could.

“I’m very lucky that they’ve allowed me to be myself as well. Look, I’ve learned a lot as well while I’ve been here. Everything that works at home doesn’t necessarily work here so you have to respect the game and spend a wee bit of time doing that and learning.”

Tune into an inteview with Niamh just after she joined the Suns.