A DEBUT to remember.
After arriving in Australia in June this year for pre-season, Dayna Finn has ticked off her first AFLW game in Round 5, and a win is exactly how she wanted to kick off career.
Finn previously played Gaelic football in Ireland, representing County Mayo, before being picked up in the off-season by Carlton.
Producing a well-rounded performance against Sydney on Friday afternoon, Finn impressed in her first taste of the highest level.
“I’ve been here since June, it was good to get the opportunity and what a better way than to get the win as well,” Finn said.
“It was a tough grind and we said we needed to be brave and turn up and the girls were huge today and we deserve that.”
While the hot conditions weren’t ideal for Finn and her fellow Irish teammate Erone Fitzpatrick, the team was able to get it done in a high-pressure, physical contest against the Swans.
Having only played a handful of match simulations leading up to the game, it didn't take long for Finn to find her feet in an intense game, finishing the game with four intercept possessions and a number of telling moments deep in defence.
She also matched her counterpart with a nail-biting win in game one: Fitzpatrick's first victory was a two-point triumph on debut, while Finn's was by five in another thrilling finish at IKON Park.
“There’s a huge gap there [from the practice matches]: the intensity of today was huge and the weather didn’t really help that, me and ‘Ronnie’ definitely aren’t used to playing in 27-degree heat!
“The intensity was a huge jump, but we embraced it and I loved every minute.
“I was naturally a back in footy back home, and I really felt comfortable [at half back] today. The last few weeks have really helped me to get a grip of the game.”
With her mum and dad jumping on a plane as soon as they heard Finn had been selected, she was delighted to be reunited with her parents, noting at home they "never miss a game".
While it may have been their first AFLW game, Finn couldn’t be happier to have them supporting her in the stands of IKON Park.
“That was Mum and Dad’s first [AFLW] game and they’re at every game at home,” she said.
“It was so good to have them here today and can’t wait to catch up with them and have a few weeks with them here.”
