New Armagh ladies joint managers Joe Feeney and Darnell Parkinson have received an early Christmas present with the news that both Aimee and Blaithín Mackin will be free of their AFLW commitments for the whole of the 2025 Ladies’ Football Championship season.
Melbourne Demons List Manager Todd Patterson has confirmed to the Irish News that star forward and older sibling Aimee (27) will remain inactive on the Demons playing list for the second consecutive year as she continues her recovery from the second season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear of her career which occurred in the Orchard County’s Ulster Final victory over Donegal in May.
Three-time Allstar Aimee played six matches for Melbourne in an injury interrupted debut season in 2023.
“Aimee will again be on our inactive list for the 2025 season, meaning she will be able to focus on her recovery and commitments with Armagh,” Patterson told the Irish News.
“Aimee will remain connected and engaged with the club and will return in 2026.”
Sister Blaithin is contracted to the Demons for the next two years but is free to focus on Armagh’s season before flying 10,000 miles across the other side of the world to Melbourne for her fourth AFLW campaign. The GAA and AFLW seasons overlap for the first time next year, but Blaithin’s availability for Armagh will be unaffected.
“Blaithin will join us at the end of her Armagh campaign in 2025,” Patterson said.
“We’re excited to welcome Blaithin back and have her build on the important role she played for us this year.”
The younger Mackin sister, 24, was recruited by Melbourne in 2022 when she played in 10 of 13 matches and memorably booted the opening goal of their grand final victory over the Brisbane Lions with the Mackin family watching from the stands.
In 2023, Blaithin proved her value again, averaging 14 disposals per game and kicking five goals.
This year Blaithin continued to impress as one of Melbourne’s outstanding midfielders despite missing several matches of the regular season with a calf injury.
