It was back on February 3, 2018, that Cora Staunton kicked her first AFLW goal.
And from that moment on, she’s been a key target for the GIANTS in their forward line.
The Gaelic Football icon was recruited by former AFLW Head Coach Alan McConnell and Irishman and former GIANTS AFL assistant coach Nick Walsh in October 2017, as the first international player drafted to the competition.
At first, it was a passing joke for Staunton to come to Australia and join the recently established GIANTS AFLW team, but after some back-and-forth emails with McConnell, it soon became a reality.
For Staunton it was the opportunity of a new challenge that appealed to her the most as well as the chance to live in a country that had good weather for four months of the year.
With just a few months preparation to learn a new sport and refine her skills, Staunton showed the drive that made her a Gaelic champion very early on.
In her debut season Staunton scored five goals and averaged eight disposals, two tackles and three handballs a game.
When Staunton broke her leg playing local footy in May 2019, most not only ruled her out of the 2020 season but doubted her ability to get back on the field at all.
And there was a genuine fear that the only option for the Gaelic Football legend was retirement.
Staunton incredibly completed her rehabilitation to be fit for the GIANTS' season-opener, but after booting just one goal from the opening three games, she admits even she had second thoughts about rushing back.
But Staunton soon found her form, going on to win the first of now three club Leading Goal Kicker awards.
Her age has always been a talking point, joining the competition at the age of 36. But she’s never let it define her.
Staunton kicked eight goals in 2020 at the age of 38, 10 in 2021 at 39 and most recently 18 in season six at the age of 40, where she was the equal second-highest goal scorer in the league.
On Sunday, in the opening round of the historic seventh season of the competition, Staunton slotted three goals in an effort to get her side the round one win.
It was her goal in the final minutes of the fourth quarter that not only gave her team a chance to take the four points but also brought up her 50th AFLW career goal.
Staunton becomes just one of three players to achieve the milestone, with Carlton’s Darcy Vescio (52*) and former Adelaide star, now Port Adelaide captain Erin Phillips (50*) the only other two to do so, with both Vescio and Phillips debuting in 2017.
The 40-year-old might be the oldest player in the competition but is showing no signs of slowing down.
