THE good news just keeps on coming for Erika O’Shea.

As the Macroom woman gets ready to contest the Australian Women’s Football League final for the second year running, she has also signed a new deal with North Melbourne Kangaroos to keep her at the club until the end of the 2027 season.

Not only that, but the Cork ladies footballer will play her 50th AFLW game in Saturday’s Grand Final against Brisbane, becoming the the first Irish player from North Melbourne to reach the 50-game milestone.

A club statement said: ‘The talented defender has taken her game to another level in 2025, reaching career-high averages in several key statistics, including an impressive 16 disposals per game, up from eight in the previous year.’

The Kangaroos beat Melbourne Demons 46-36 in the semi-final last weekend will now face their old nemesis Brisbane Lions in the decider on Saturday in Carlton. O’Shea’s team are on a remarkable 26-game winning streak at the moment and have gone through 2024 and 2025 without a defeat.

To highlight the Macroom woman’s influence this season, O’Shea was nominated along with six other Irish players for the AFL Players’ Most Valuable Player Award.

North Melbourne general manager of women’s football Erin Lorenzini added: ‘Erika still has so much growth left in her, which makes us excited to see where she can take her game over the next couple of years.’