Aileen Gilroy (born 1 March 1993) is an former Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). Gilroy signed with North Melbourne as a rookie during the 2019 rookie signing period in August.[1] She made her debut against Melbourne at Casey Fields in the opening round of the 2020 season.[2]
| Aileen Gilroy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Gilroy playing Australian rules football with North Melbourne in March 2021 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Born |
1 March 1993 Killala, County Mayo, Ireland | ||
| Draft | 2019 rookie signing | ||
| Debut | Round 1, 2020, North Melbourne vs. Melbourne, at Casey Fields | ||
| Height | 172 cm (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Hawthorn | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2020–2022 | North Melbourne | 28 (0) | |
| 2022–2025 | Hawthorn | 42 (23) | |
| Total | 70 (23) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2025. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| Source: AustralianFootball.com | |||
Australian rules football career
editOn 30 August 2019, Gilroy signed with North Melbourne as a rookie during the 2019 rookie signing period, joining her fellow countrywoman Mairéad Seoighe at the club.[1][3][4] Quickly establishing herself as a fan-favourite,[5] Gilroy made 7 appearances for the Kangaroos in 2020, averaging almost 10 disposals a game, and finished fifth in the best-and-fairest count.[6] It was revealed she signed on with the club for two more seasons on 17 June 2021, tying her to the club until the end of 2023.[7] In May 2022, Gilroy surprisingly joined expansion club Hawthorn, after telling North Melbourne she would recommit to them.[8]
Statistics
editUpdated to the end of 2025.[9]
G |
Goals | K |
Kicks | D |
Disposals | T |
Tackles |
B |
Behinds | H |
Handballs | M |
Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 2020 | North Melbourne | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 18 | 68 | 12 | 8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.1 | 2.6 | 9.7 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0 |
| 2021 | North Melbourne | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 102 | 20 | 122 | 21 | 28 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 10.2 | 2.0 | 12.2 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 0 |
| 2022 (S6) | North Melbourne | 8 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 102 | 30 | 132 | 19 | 23 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 9.3 | 2.7 | 12.0 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1 |
| 2022 (S7) | Hawthorn | 7 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 112 | 11 | 123 | 14 | 53 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 11.2 | 1.1 | 12.3 | 1.4 | 5.3 | 0 |
| 2023 | Hawthorn | 7 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 94 | 21 | 115 | 16 | 41 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 9.4 | 2.1 | 11.5 | 1.6 | 4.1 | 0 |
| 2024 | Hawthorn | 7 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 156 | 17 | 173 | 18 | 45 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 12.0 | 1.3 | 13.3 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 7 |
| 2025 | Hawthorn | 7 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 103 | 21 | 124 | 20 | 32 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 11.4 | 2.3 | 13.8 | 2.2 | 3.6 | 0 |
| Career | 70 | 23 | 34 | 719 | 138 | 857 | 120 | 230 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 10.3 | 2.0 | 12.2 | 1.7 | 3.3 | 8 | ||
Gaelic football career
editAssociation football career
edit| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Aileen Gilroy | ||
| Date of birth | 1 March 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Killala, County Mayo, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Positions | |||
| Youth career | |||
| Killala AFC | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2014 | Castlebar Celtic | ||
| International career | |||
| Republic of Ireland U17 | |||
| Republic of Ireland U19 | |||
| Republic of Ireland | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Youth
editClub
editIn 2011, Gilroy signed for Castlebar Celtic, one of the six teams that competed in the WNL's inaugural 2011–12 season, and stayed at the club until 2014.[16]
International
editAs a teenager, Gilroy represented the Republic of Ireland at U17 and U19 level. She represented Ireland at the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, where Ireland reached the quarter-finals. In June 2013, she was named to the squad for the 2013 Summer Universiade.[17]
In February 2014, Gilroy received her first senior call-up.[18]
Honours
editGaelic football
edit- All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship
- Runners-up: 2017
- Individual
- Connacht Young Player of the Year
- Winner: 2009
- Ladies' Gaelic football All Stars Awards
- Winner: 2017
Australian rules football
editReferences
edit- 1 2 "AFLW: Irishwoman commits". North Melbourne Football Club. Telstra Media. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ↑ "Round 1 AFLW teams and expert tips". The Age. Fairfax Media. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ↑ "Mayo midfielder becomes latest player to make AFLW move in signing for North Melbourne". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ↑ "Mayo's Aileen Gilroy signs for AFLW side North Melbourne". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ↑ Woods, Dan (19 February 2020). ""A dream come true"". North Melbourne Football Club. Telstra Media. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ↑ "AFLW: Garner wins Best and Fairest". North Melbourne Football Club. Telstra Media. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ↑ Zanardo, Karla (17 June 2021). "AFLW: Roos eye the future". North Media. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ↑ "Hawthorn makes history with first Irish AFLW signing". Hawthorn. Telstra Media. 30 May 2022.
- ↑ "Aileen Gilroy". Australian Football. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ↑ "Cork Dominate 30th Ladies Football All Stars Awards". Ladies' Gaelic Football Association. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ↑ "Ladies All-Stars announced". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ↑ "Six All Star awards for All-Ireland champions Dublin". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 26 November 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ↑ Donnelly, Katherine (25 June 2010). "Aileen finishes first leg of her big week". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ↑ "Lacken Cross into history". The Mayo News. 9 March 2009. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ↑ "St. Patrick's Day in Longford". Football Association of Ireland. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ↑ "Aileen Gilroy". Extratime.ie. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ↑ "Student Sport Ireland ready for World University Games". Women's National League. 30 June 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ↑ "Aileen Gilroy Named In Irish Senior Squad". Castlebar Celtic. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
External links
edit- Aileen Gilroy at AustralianFootball.com