When Grace and Niamh Kelly begin their annual travel to Perth for the AFLW season, they know it will involve hours on planes, weeks in hotel quarantine, and months away from their family and friends.
However, for West Coast's Irish stars, coming back to Australia every year is a no-brainer.
"We're lucky that we can get back to Ireland because we know people here from Ireland that live in Perth. They haven't seen their families in, like, three [or] four years."
The Kellys are playing in their third season with the Eagles, but this year there was some trepidation about leaving Ireland to return to Australia.
"There were a lot of challenges," Grace said.
"We've been trying to get our boyfriends out, actually, the last two years. So, unfortunately, they can't come out due to the pandemic.
Off the plane and on the road
The 2022 AFLW season has already been disrupted by the pandemic, with the Eagles' opening match of the season played against Fremantle, instead of Brisbane.
And the club is now on the road, living out of suitcases in hotels, which is something the Kellys are used to.
"I'm really looking forward to it," Niamh said.
"For us, coming from Ireland, we're not saying goodbye to family and friends here, whereas girls are leaving work and leaving family and friends.
"It's probably a little bit more difficult for [them]."
The pair have already been tapped for tips on keeping occupied while sitting in hotel rooms from some of West Coast's younger players.
"It's great that we can give that advice out, especially to the younger girls, who may not have left home for three weeks ever," Grace said.
While being a source of support for the Eagles' younger cohort will be important, playing football is what the pair are being paid to do.
Switching back to the Sherrin
Every time the Kellys return to Australia, they have to adjust back to the Aussie Rules ball and game.
That's because they spend their "off-season" playing Gaelic football.
"A lot of the skills are transferable," Niamh said.
"We do a lot of kicking and handballing in Gaelic too, but it's a different shape ball.
"You bounce and then you know it's definitely coming back up.
"Gaelic [football] is virtually non-contact."
While the physicality might be lower, there is no shortage of pressure to perform in Gaelic football.
The Kellys play for their club and County Mayo, in the province of Connacht in the west of Ireland.
There are four other AFLW players from Mayo, including 11-time All-Star Cora Staunton, who plays for GWS.
Making headway
With a new coach in Michael Prior, and the recruitment of experienced players, the Kellys believe the side is improving.
They lost the Western Derby in round one, but were competitive until the final quarter when Fremantle ran away with the game.
"We did put it up to Freo. I think, compared to other years, we were definitely more competitive," Grace said.
"I think, with more games and more practice, and more vision as well, we will improve and we're looking forward to it.
"It does feel like the gap is closing."
"I think our focus is on just trying to improve each game and kind of taking each game as it comes," Niamh said.
"The likes of Freo and these teams who've been in the competition for a very long time, we know that we need to get to the standard that they're at.
"I suppose with [that] weekend, it was a good tester and we obviously know that's the standard we need to get to."
