The Carlton player whose 12-hour shifts as a psychiatric nurse are helping her thrive in AFLW

“So once you’re on the field, it’s a fair game for anyone.”

Drafted last December alongside fellow Gaelic teammate Aisling Reidy, O’Connell hails from County Clare in Ireland and previously worked as a mental health nurse.

On Monday afternoon – ahead of the Blues’ round six clash against the Kangaroos – O’Connell and several players were at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital to visit patients.

“Mental health nursing was genuinely something that I really enjoyed,” O’Connell told this masthead.

“I’m just so fortunate to have that, and I’m really lucky as well that when I do go home, I can just pick up where I left off.”

Adhering to a gruelling schedule, O’Connell would work 12-hour shifts as a nurse in a psychiatric ward – often working through her lunch breaks – and then head off to training to play Gaelic football for Doora-Barefield.

While admitting the workload was “pretty crazy”, O’Connell said her experience as a mental health care professional equipped her with transferable footy skills.

“When you think you’re so tired, you’re not,” she said.

“That resilience has stayed with me. Even on the field where you think you’re completely finished and you want your rotation to come ASAP, or the siren to go off, you know that you can dig deep.

“I’ve seen such cruel things in the world and things I never thought could even happen … so kind of knowing that I’m so lucky where I am, the opportunities I’ve got in life, and how far I’ve come, you just want to build on that and grow and be able to help someone else out down the line.”

Standing at 182 centimetres, O’Connell’s strength and speed were on display during her debut against Brisbane in round three. The Blues have won four out of their five games and are third on the ladder – the team’s best start to an AFLW season in several years.

“I think we’ve been very fortunate, me, Aisling and Maria [Cannon], we kind of all came in from Ireland this year, and we’ve been fortunate to be on the lucky side so far,” O’Connell said.

“So, like, the season has had a great start, but speaking to the girls from experience, it hasn’t always been this way, so it’s keeping yourself in line, not riding the roller-coaster, we’re only five rounds in.”

The 24-year-old said she’s slowly getting used to the Aussie accent and also adjusting to the physical nature of AFLW.

“I feel like I’m still doing the 12-hour shift, but it’s just a different type of job at the minute,” she joked.

“Like this is so physical and everything, whereas that one [nursing job] was so mentally kind of [tough]. I miss all the girls, I miss the clients, everything like that.

“But other than that, I know that I’m gonna have that for the rest of my life. So kind of following this opportunity when it arose was the right thing to do, and I’m so glad I did.”

On Sunday, the Tigers lost by 30 points to Geelong, but Richmond coach Ryan Ferguson insisted low morale is not an issue within the team,

“We’ve got a challenge in front of us, but morale has not been an issue in terms of week to week ... and attacking our game to get better,” he said in a post-match interview.

“I’ve got no doubts that we’ll be able to rest up, recover and get into the week really strongly again.

“We just got to make sure we get better.”

ACL deja vu for heartbroken McKinnon

There was further heartbreak for Richmond, as the Tigers confirmed ruck Montana McKinnon had suffered a ruptured ACL, only a year after undergoing a knee reconstruction on the same leg.

McKinnon came off the field and went straight into the rooms after suffering a knee injury in the final quarter during Sunday’s game against Geelong.

Richmond’s head of women’s football Kate Sheahan said it was a cruel blow for the popular figure.

“Montana has come into our program from Adelaide and brought so much with her character and energy,” Sheahan said.

“To see her suffer another serious injury like this is just so unfortunate. She put in an enormous amount of work behind the scenes to get back on the park, and if anyone deserved a change of luck this season, it was her.”

Is this soccer or AFL? Bulldog kicks gutsy goal

GWS were the ultimate victors on Saturday afternoon, but at least the Bulldogs have this frantic but fantastic goal from Rylie Wilcox to remember fondly.

Wilcox dropped the ball when attempting a mark and then scrambled after it, but lost her footing. She kicked her foot out mid-fall to slam the ball through the goalpost, eliciting cheers from the crowd.

You can watch the goal here.

GWS went on to win the game by 21 points, ending a barren run of more than a year without an AFLW win.

Sydney’s dream run comes undone with shock loss to Pies

It’s not what anyone expected going into the match – Collingwood keeping Sydney goalless for three quarters. But that’s just what happened before they went on to end the Swans’ perfect start to the AFLW season with a shock 26-point win.

The Swans started the game as hot favourites, one of four teams to boast 4-0 records.

But Melbourne’s Victoria Park was a graveyard for visiting teams for more than a century, and so it proved on Saturday. The Swans were never in the contest.

It is Collingwood’s second win and the wooden spooners from last season improved to 10th with a 2-3 record.

Look away now if you’re squeamish

An attempted mark by Crows forward Caitlin Gould during the clash with Hawthorn on Sunday afternoon did not go as planned.

The 26 year-old jumped into the air to contest the ball during the first two minutes of the match but had her legs knocked from under her, crashing to the ground and landing on her wrist.

Adelaide went on to win 7.6 (48) to 4.3 (27), but Gould left the field and headed into the clubrooms. She was later sent to hospital for scans.

Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke said Gould would likely spend a significant time on the sidelines. “It looks like a fracture … and it could be an extended period out unfortunately,” he said.

“She’s real disappointed, as we all are. [It’s] really tough, obviously the season is so short so a significant injury could jeopardise the whole season.”

Eagles star Roberts (24 disposals, five clearances, one goal, 448m gained) almost lifted her side to victory with a huge second half.

Fremantle’s Irish star Orlagh Lally won the western derby medal as best afield after tallying 24 disposals, three clearances, 456m gained and one goal.

“I think I’m used to this weather, it felt a bit more like home, so it was nice to get out there in the rain,” Lally said.

“It’s always sweet to win against the local rivals.”

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She said the team try not to think about their undefeated status and take the games week by week.

An early goal from Brisbane’s Dakota Davidson in the first quarter put the Lions on the scoreboard, and showed initial signs of a potential upset. But North countered with a running boot from forward Vikki Wall and a follow-up goal from Tahlia Randall.

Magic play from Garner and Ash Riddell extended North’s margin during the second quarter, while the Lions struggled with pressure. Garner continued to shine with 24 disposals that included a goal, seven clearances and nine tackles.

North continued to out-body Brisbane in the second half aided by several goals from Irish forward Blaithin Bogue. The second half was also marred by injuries for Brisbane, with vice-captain Nat Grider out with a concussion and forward Ellie Hampson suffering a shoulder injury. The 24-year-old left the field clutching her collarbone after a hit.

North’s lead ballooned in the final quarter and the reigning premiers ultimately won 10.5 (65) to 5.6 (36), clinching their fifth straight win and 17th consecutive victory.