Bonner set for AFLW return after signing for the Crows

DONEGAL star Yvonne Bonner is the latest Irish player to a sign a deal as she returns to the AFLW.

Having played 11 times for Sydney club GWS Giants, the 35-year-old has signed for the Adelaide Crows with pick No 26 in Tuesday’s Supplementary Draft.

It comes after Niamh McLaughlin and Armagh’s Aimee Mackin signed deals in recent weeks.

Bonner made her AFLW debut in 2019 kicking an average of almost a goal per game, before an ankle injury ended her 2020 season after only four games and she later returned to Ireland due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When she arrives at West Lakes for pre-season training, Bonner will reunite with former GWS teammates Lisa Whiteley and Jess Allan who are now playing with the Crows.

Adelaide Head of Women’s Football Phil Harper said the ready-made forward would be a handy addition to the squad.

“We’ve followed Yvonne’s career since she made her AFLW debut and she was always a dangerous opponent and a difficult match-up, so when she indicated she was thinking of returning this year, we were very interested,” Harper said.

“Yvonne is an experienced athlete with a strong work ethic but also a noted goalkicker in both Gaelic and AFLW and that will give us another option inside attacking 50m.

“Yvonne has the capacity to have an immediate impact and can help make us better this season.

“We look forward to welcoming Yvonne, Paul and Brid to Adelaide in the coming months.”