Zippy Fish's whirlwind start to AFLW football will take another exciting turn with a rare opportunity in Australian football to pull on the green and gold.
Fish is among the first drop of names confirmed as selections for when Australia and Ireland play in a representative fixture at North Sydney Oval on August 1.
The Sydney defender and 2025 Rising Star, which Fish took home as unanimous winner, is joined by Indigenous AFLW stars Courtney Hodder and Georgie Prespakis within the first eight players announced to run out representing Australia.
Australian Rules-Gaelic Football hybrid games featuring AFL and Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) stars were once a semi-regular fixture, though were last contested in 2017.
August's match will be played under AFLW rules, having been rumoured as a potential inclusion into the sporting calendar made possible by the representation of Irish players in the national women's competition, ahead of the 2026 season's start.
Fish, 20, made an instant impact on the competition collecting over 21 touches per game in her debut season after arriving at the Swans as a top five draft pick.
Her selection for Australia comes after just 12 AFLW games.
Brisbane forward and two-time premiership winner Courtney Hodder has been selected after a string of strong campaigns with the Lions.
Georgie Prespakis will also run out off the back of claiming her second club best and fairest for the Cats, and fifth selection in the AFLPA's 22under22 team.
They join AFLW best and fairest winners Monique Conti and Ash Riddell, Dees sharpshooter Kate Hore, competition veteran Jasmine Garner and duel Port Adelaide best and fairest Matilda Scholz in the Australian side selections named so far.
Ireland's team already boasts the names Orla O'Dwyer, Dayna Finn, Aisling McCarthy, Niamh Kelly, Aishling Moloney, Erika O'Shea, Aine McDonagh, and Sarah Rowe
"We're excited to announce the first group of players selected to represent Australia, featuring some of the competition's biggest stars and emerging talent," Australian coach Darren Crocker said.
"Together, this group includes 26 All-Australian selections, eight AFLW premierships, two league best and fairest awards and two Rising Star awards - a reflection of the calibre of players chosen so far.
"We can't wait to bring the rest of the squad together and preparing for what promises to be a fantastic occasion."
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It's the latest move made by AFL/AFLW football in representative games.
In 2025, the Indigenous All Stars returned for the first time in a decade to take on Fremantle in a season curtain raiser, with Victoria and Western Australia playing the first State of Origin game this century in February this year.
In other AFLW news, Crows all-time leading goalkicker Danielle Paredes (née Ponter) has been placed onto Adelaide's inactive list after announcing her pregnancy.
She will not take part in the 2026 season.
"Kids have always been a very important part of both our lives, and we love them very much, so to be able to have our own is something very special," she said.
"For now, footy has to take a step back and I have mixed emotions about that because footy has been such a strong part of my life for a long time, but I'm very happy and excited."
The Tiwi, Anmatjerre and Marranunggu forward signed a two-year extension at the Crows through to the end of the 2027 earlier this year.
