Ailish Considine
Inside the Irish product's quarantine and emotional West Lakes return
Uncertainty
When Ailish Considine stepped back onto the shed floor at West Lakes for the first time in more than six months, the emotion was palpable. The two-time premiership player returned to her home country of Ireland following the Crows’ 2021 AFLW campaign, unsure of if, and when, she’d be able to come back to Australia.
Heading home
“I didn’t really know what I was going home to because there were still a few restrictions at the time when I left here,” Considine told AFC Media. “It was great to feel some kind of normality back home because it had been more than 12 months since it was a non-restricted Ireland. All that eased a little bit while I was over there so it was nice to catch up with family and friends and be able to do all those things with everyone.”
Quarantine
After an arduous exemption process, the 29-year-old touched down in Adelaide two weeks ago. As the Crows’ AFLW side began their official pre-season, Ailish kicked off hers - armed with just a bike, dumbbells and the four walls of hotel quarantine.
Challenges
“It actually went very smoothly on the day. After I left London it was plain sailing all the way to Adelaide, which was a relief after all the hard work that the Club and Phil (Harper) had put in to try and get me here,” Considine said. “Quarantine is tough, it’s not the easiest thing to get through, especially when you’re confined to a hotel room with no fresh air, but you have to do what you have to do.”
The bright side
While the Irish product was prepared to do whatever it took to be back with her Australian teammates, she did joke about one pre-season request. “(Quarantine is) the sacrifice that I have to make to play with the Crows and be back here,” Considine said. “But I swear, if I have to see another bike for the next couple of weeks my arse will not be appreciative of that."
Nerves and relief
Considine was released from quarantine on Friday morning, jumping straight back into training with the side that night. “I was extremely nervous coming back in, it’s overwhelming being able to see everyone again and to be back at the Club… but it’s so nice to feel the love from everyone and all the hugs and ‘welcome backs’,” Considine said.
“I came out of quarantine this morning, so to get that reaction - it’s something really special about this group. This group is extremely special… absolutely buzzing to be back.”
Looking ahead
With season 2022 now on the horizon, Considine revealed what she was most excited to return for. “Crowds! That’s something that seems so far in the future at the moment… but it will be incredible,” she said. “We’ve got such a great group of supporters, so it will be amazing to be back in front of them and have them as our 17th player on the ground.”
