LEADING into Carlton’s clash with Richmond, the Blues’ AFLW Senior Coach Mathew Buck had this to say.

“If we can take anything from our Irish players, it’s dig in and make sure we get the job done.”

That they did. And not for the first time in 2026, it was Síofra O’Connell who lived that ethos.

One of Carlton’s big improvers so far this season, O’Connell has already eclipsed her game tally from her debut season, featuring in all seven games at the level and getting better by the week.

Buck's comment came on the back of a performance which he regarded as "her best game for Carlton", against the then-undefeated Melbourne. She followed that up with a career-high 14 disposals last Friday against Richmond.

O’Connell has been eye-catching with her performances for the Blues in the back half, which was the perfect sign-off to a week where she extended her contract with the Blues for a further two seasons.

“It’s a credit to the resources and the management, everyone that has put in the work with not only me, but all of us over the pre-season,” O’Connell told Carlton Media.

“It was difficult coming back in January, but I’ve been able to flourish - learning the game, learning the rules. It’s not being scared, it’s trusting everyone around me - it’s been really fun.

“Getting that confidence week-by-week and being available for selection in the first place, it’s been so fun… especially being on the winning side!”

The decision to re-sign with the Blues was an easy one, with O’Connell not only feeling home at the Blues, but the Club itself thrilled with O’Connell’s development in such a short amount of time.

Speaking at the time of O’Connell’s re-signing, Head of AFLW Eleni Valos said that “Síofra is the ultimate professional: her ability to grow and develop in AFLW, mixed with her competitive edge and composure under pressure, has been impressive to watch”.

Fellow defender Maddy Hendrie echoed that very sentiment.

Complimenting the player affectionately known as ‘Chief’, Hendrie said of O’Connell: “I can’t wait for the day where she realises how good she is.

“She’s so brave, so selfless and she’ll drive through a ground ball just to put her teammate in a better position. It lifts everyone around her to play like that too.”

The clash with Richmond coincided with Carlton celebrating its Irish flare in its AFLW program: for just the fifth time, all four Irish recruits - O’Connell, Dayna Finn, Erone Fitzpatrick and Aisling Reidy - pulled on the Navy Blue jumper in the same game.

It’s no surprise that despite being in a city which was unfamiliar territory just over a year ago, the County Clare product looks more and more comfortable on Royal Parade.

“It’s mad that we can do this on the other side of the world. Being able to celebrate [our culture] and feel like you’re home away from home, it’s really nice.

“It’s a great bunch of girls - and a great team.”