AFLW历史性国际首秀：悉尼天鹅队友变对手

澳大利亚女子澳式足球联赛（AFLW）将迎来首场国际代表赛，悉尼天鹅队的两名队友将分别代表各自国家对阵 1。Zipporah Fish将身穿澳大利亚球衣出战，而Paris McCarthy则为爱尔兰效力，两人将在北悉尼椭圆形球场相遇 1。这场比赛预计吸引近1万名观众，门票已售罄 2。

Fish是2025年AFLW年度新星 1，而McCarthy已有四年未听到爱尔兰国歌 1。这一对阵将两名来自世界各地小镇背景的球员从队友转变为对手 1。目前AFLW名单中有46名爱尔兰籍球员，另有30名曾在该联赛中效力 1。

这场历史性的国际比赛反映了AFLW新任主管劳拉·凯恩领导下的发展方向 2。凯恩已将AFL总部女子赛事的专职员工增加至14人 2，并提出"我们的比赛，我们的规则"的口号，以推动女性竞赛独立发展，而非简单复制男性比赛模式 2。

Sydney Swans teammates Paris McCarthy and Zipporah Fish will face each other across opposing sides in the AFLW's first-ever international match on Saturday.1 Fish will represent Australia while McCarthy plays for Ireland in the landmark contest at North Sydney Oval.12 The fixture is expected to draw nearly 10,000 spectators to the venue.2

The match marks a significant shift in women's Australian rules football strategy. AFLW leadership under new director Laura Kane has introduced the motto "Our Game. Our Rules," signaling a commitment to developing women's competition as an independent entity rather than mirroring the men's format.2 Kane has expanded dedicated staff resources for women's events at AFL headquarters to 14 people.2 The international representative fixture exemplifies this new direction, with 46 Irish-born players currently on AFLW lists and another 30 who have previously competed in the league.1

For McCarthy, the match carries particular emotional weight, as she has not heard the Irish national anthem in four years.1 Fish, meanwhile, arrives as the 2025 AFLW Rising Star,1 bringing momentum to her debut for the national side. The pairing of former teammates now representing different nations encapsulates the growing global reach of the women's competition.