Cavan standout Brady makes AFLW debut

By Niall Keenan

Former Cavan Ladies star Ellie Brady made her first AFLW appearance for Collingwood on Sunday in a 38-31 loss to Essendon.

The Ballyhaise cross-coder was signed on a two-year rookie deal with the Magpies that runs until the end of 2027 having impressed at both county and college level in Gaelic Football.

Collingwood trailed 35-18 in the third quarter but Brady gave the 'Pies' something to shout about as she burst through to kick her first career goal on her opening start.

She became the fifth Irish woman to line out for the Melbourne club following in the footsteps of former Breffni teammate Aishling Sheridan.

The 2025 Curran Cup winner with Maynooth University had previously made five appearances in the game's second tier - VFLW, scoring two goals for the Pies but was thrust into AFLW action for the first time as Collingwood closed out their season.

Brady captained Cavan minors to their first ever All-Ireland A Ladies Gaelic Football title back in the summer of 2024 and won a Senior Division 3 National League medal and Ulster Intermediate Football Championship last year.