Adelaide assistant coach Courtney Cramey is confident Australia's AFLW stars can quickly build the connection needed to take on Ireland this weekend, despite having just three days together as a squad before the historic clash.

Cramey, who has been appointed an assistant coach of the Australian team, will work alongside fellow Crows representatives Ebony Marinoff and Chelsea Biddell as the country's best players come together for the match which will be hosted in Sydney on Saturday.

“They're coming together in camp on Thursday, and we'll have a team dinner and a bit of a Captain's run on Friday, then the AFLW season launch is on the Friday night, before heading into the game on Saturday,” Cramey said.

“The first thing will be about connecting them as quickly as possible, and obviously putting on green and gold is a number one connection straight away, which is going to be great in terms of the opportunity they have to represent their country, which hasn't been done before in AFLW, so that's really exciting.

“We'll be really drawing on that connectedness and what the girls bring in terms of them having played the game for such a long time compared to their Irish counterparts.

“It’s a really exciting opportunity for me (to be an assistant), not only to be part of a historical moment in the game, but also in terms of getting to coach some of the best players in the competition, which is going to be really exciting, and alongside some of the best coaches in the competition.”

The Crows also had all four of their Irish-born players selected to represent Australia’s opposition, with Niamh and Grace Kelly, Kayleigh Cronin and Amy Boyle Carr named in the Ireland side.

Grace Kelly, however, will miss the match after injuring her hamstring during Adelaide’s pre-season training.

Cramey said it was exciting to have so many Adelaide players earn selection.

“The fact that we had every single Irish player picked just goes to show the talent that we have on our list here at the Crows from our Irish contingent,” Cramey said.

“That was a really proud moment for all of them and a really exciting opportunity that they're all pumped about. 

“Then to have Ebony (Marinoff) and Chelsea (Biddell) recognised for the amount of work that they've done for the game, and their current form in the W is amazing.

“Ebony goes to another level every year, and Chelsea has gone to another level in terms of her pre-season, so I'm really looking forward to working with them as well and seeing them take up this opportunity.”

And Cramey was expecting Ireland to put up a strong challenge, with plenty of speed in the team.

“We know that the Irish are fast and really good in contests, so it's going to be an exciting game,” Cramey said.

“I think the experience from the men's state of origin game would suggest that it's going to be probably pretty high scoring, so that's exciting for the fans.

“Hopefully, all the people in Sydney that are coming along to the game, but also those watching it on telly, enjoy it.”

Cramey, a two-time AFLW premiership player with the Crows, retired in 2020 after playing 20 games across four seasons.

She has been an assistant with Adelaide since the 2022 AFLW season and, this year, would be in charge of the defence, after looking after the midfield for the past four seasons.

The South Australian said she had enjoyed the change up under new Crows AFLW Senior Coach Ryan Davis and was impressed with how the team was tracking in the lead up to Round One.

“I've been coaching the midfield group for a number of years now, so to be challenged and to work a little bit more closely with other players has been really exciting,” Cramey said.

“I'm really excited about how not only we defend, but how we commence our ball movement off the back half.

“Our girls have had a solid pre-season, and it’s been a little bit different to previous years, we've had the opportunity to play four trial matches,” Cramey said.

“We've come up against Fremantle, West Coast, St Kilda, and we play Port Adelaide this weekend out at West Lakes on Sunday as an unofficial trial match, so it's a great opportunity to put some things into place and really practice what we've been trying to work on this season under new coach Ryan Davis. 

“It's a really exciting time, the girls are in a really good space fitness wise and in good condition, they've worked really, really hard, so they’re really primed and ready for the season ahead.”

Australia faces Ireland in a representative match at North Sydney Oval on Saturday at 3.45pm (ACST).

The Crows, meanwhile, kick off their 2026 AFLW campaign against Sydney at Unley Oval on Sunday, August 16.

Tickets available here.