Aishling Moloney

Aishling Moloney
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Lingy
Date of birth	(1998-01-28) 28 January 1998 (age 27)
Place of birth	Cahir, Ireland
Original team(s)	Tipperary Ladies (GAA)
Draft	International rookie selection
Debut	Round 1, 2023, Geelong vs. Western Bulldogs, at GMHBA Stadium
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Club information
Current club	Geelong
Number	45
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2023–	Geelong	24 (31)
^1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2024 season.
Career highlights
AFLW Leading Goalkicker: 2024 AFL Women's All-Australian team: 2024 AFLPA Best First Year Player: 2023
Source: AustFootball

Aishling Moloney (born 28 January 1998) is an Irish Australian rules footballer playing for the Geelong Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW).[1]

Career

Originating from Cahir, County Tipperary as a gaelic footballer for Tipperary Ladies,[2] Moloney was recruited by Geelong prior to the 2023 AFLW season.[3]

Moloney had been previously scouted by the Brisbane Lions, but her departure to Australia was delayed due to work commitments and injury. Moloney had a knee injury in 2021 and was bitten by a spider in 2022.[4]

Making an instant impact for Geelong,[4] Moloney was awarded the 2023 AFL Players' Best First Year Player Award in her debut season.[5][6]

During the AFL Women's offseason, Moloney returned to Ireland to play for County Tipperary.[5]

Moloney would kick 21 goals during the 2024 AFL Women's season, to tie for the AFL Women's leading goalkicker award with Brisbane's Taylor Smith. Her season included a career-high six goals against West Coast.[7][8] She would finish second in Geelong's Best and Fairest count polling 98 votes behind winner Nina Morrison.[9][10][11][12]

At the 2024 AFL Women's Awards, she was selected to the 2024 AFL Women's All-Australian team in the forward line in recognition of her 2024 season,[13] and would sign a contract extension with Geelong until the end of the 2027 season.[14]

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2024 season [15]

Legend

G	Goals	K	Kicks	D	Disposals	T	Tackles
B	Behinds	H	Handballs	M	Marks
†	Led the league for  the season

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals								Averages (per game)								Votes
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	H/O	G	B	K	H	D	M	T	H/O
2023	Geelong	45	13	10	15	98	39	137	43	19	1	0.8	1.2	7.5	3.0	10.5	3.3	1.5	0.1	3
2024	Geelong	45	11	21^†	11	104	52	156	32	31	5	1.9	1.0	9.5	4.7	14.2	2.9	2.8	0.5	9
Career			24	31	26	202	91	293	75	50	6	1.3	1.1	8.4	3.8	12.2	3.1	2.1	0.3	12

Honours and achievements

• AFLPA Best First Year Player: 2023
• AFLW Leading Goalkicker: 2024 (tied with Taylor Smith)
• AFL Women's All-Australian team: 2024

References

1. "Aishling Moloney – AFL". geelongcats.com.au. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
2. Gill, Sarah. "Aishling Moloney: 'Sport brings happiness and support to people of all ages'". www.image.ie. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
3. "Cats Sign Irish Duo". geelongcats.com.au. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
4. Brosnan, Maurice (17 November 2023). "The rise of a Tipp superstar Aishling Moloney — She's quickly 'becoming the face' of AFLW". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
5. Bolton, Michael (28 January 2024). "Tipperary's Aishling Moloney aiming to build on instant impact made in Australia". www.breakingnews.ie. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
6. "Moloney Rewarded for Stellar Debut Season". geelongcats.com.au. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
7. Chadwick, Justin (27 October 2024). "Irish star Aishling Moloney breaks club record with six goals in Geelong's win over West Coast". 7news.com.au. Seven West Media. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
8. Welsh, Sophie (3 November 2024). "Goalkicking award shared as Lions sharpshooter denied late shot". afl.com.au.
9. "Morrison crowned Cats Best and Fairest". Geelong Football Club. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
10. King, Tom (17 November 2024). "Nina named top Cat". Krock Football. Geelong Broadcasters Pty Limited. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
11. van Oorshot, Vinnie (17 November 2024). "Morrison claims maiden club best and fairest after superb campaign". Geelong Times. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
12. Saultry, Meg (17 November 2024). "Nina Morrison crowned Geelong's 2024 AFLW best and fairest medallist". Code Sports. News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
13. Bolch, Dylan (25 November 2024). "All-Australian team: Star mids grab seventh blazers, 12 first-timers". afl.com.au. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
14. Saultry, Meg (27 November 2024). "Irish cross-coder and second-year Geelong forward Aishling Moloney earns maiden All Australian selection". Code Sports. News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
15. "Aishling Moloney – player stats by season". Australian Football. Retrieved 4 November 2024.

External links

• Aishling Moloney's profile on the official website of the Geelong Football Club
• Aishling Moloney at AustralianFootball.com
• Aishling Moloney on Instagram