Legendary Cork defender Bríd Stack is set to come out of retirement to join AFLW side Greater Western Sydney Giants in Australia.
The 11-time All-Ireland winner, who retired from inter-county football last year, will make the move to Sydney to link up with her new club in November as an international rookie.
Stack, 34, will team up with former GAA stars Cora Staunton (Mayo) and Yvonne Bonner (Donegal) at the Giants. GWS finished second in their conference and reached their first AFLW finals last season.
The 2016 Ladies Footballer of the Year, who won seven All-Stars, says it was a big decision to relocate Down Under with her husband Cárthach and son Cárthach Óg.
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"It's been a mad couple of weeks," the full back told 2fm’s Game On.
"I had announced my retirement with Cork, I was looking forward to starting a family and thankfully we were blessed with a little boy last year. We have a business as well.
"So there was a lot to consider. Luckily, I'm in a position to travel, and my husband is too. It will be a fantastic adventure for our small fella
"This opportunity came up and things like this don’t happen too often when you are in the latter stages of your playing career.
"I had to grab it with two hands this year when it was offered to me."
Giants' AFLW coach Alan McConnell voiced his excitement at welcoming another GAA star to the club.
“After three years of interest on our part, it’s really exciting to have Bríd Stack finally make the decision to come to Australia and be part of our list,” McConnell told the Giants website.
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“Bríd is a key defender with great speed, good agility, is very competitive and has a long history of having high-level success in women’s football in Ireland.
“This is a recruiting model that we’ve followed with our two other Irish girls and have had great success with Cora and Yvonne in recent years and we hope to get the same outcome with Bríd.
“What an amazing thing for our footy club, that a young woman is willing to not just move herself here to play Aussie Rules but to bring her 12-month old son and her husband, as well, in the current COVID-19 environment.
“It’s just an amazingly courageous thing to do. We’re grateful and hopefully we can make the best of the opportunity for all involved.”
Stack is one of four new signings at the Giants.
The Giants used their first round draft pick to acquire athletic utility Tarni Evans, and have also brought in defensive midfielder Emily Pease from the Belconnen Magpies.
Libby Graham has also joined the club from the Manly Warringah Wolves.
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