Yvonne Bonner aiming for a flying start at new AFLW side Adelaide Crows

Yvonne Bonner admits she cannot wait to get her AFLW odyssey back on track at her new club the Adelaide Crows. 

The Glenfin woman enjoyed a brilliant 2019 Down Under at the Greater Western Sydney Giants but the next season was cut short due to a combination of a bad ankle injury and, of course, the Covid-19 pandemic.

But the Donegal star has decided to give it one more shot having been picked up by Adelaide in this term’s supplementary draft.

“The season (2020) ended pretty quickly and I was hoping to get back after the injury if the season had continued on,” Bonner said. 

“When I returned home it was always in the back of my mind, would it (playing AFLW) ever happen again? I just asked the question and it worked out and the Crows wanted to sign me.

“There were a lot of things that needed to line up but here I am, I’m very grateful it all worked out.”

Bonner and her husband Paul are this time joined in Australia by their little daughter, Brid. So it certainly feels like a brand new adventure. 

“There were a lot of things that needed to line up but here I am. I’m not a city girl, I’m from the country back home, so I think Adelaide suits me pretty well and we are loving it.

“My husband Paul has always loved Australian life so that makes things easier. Every time we go home, we always get that itch that we would love to come back (to Australia) again.”

Bonner kicked 11 goals in her previous stint in Oz and she hopes that transition back to the oval ball is just as smooth this time out. 

“It's great to be back in a professional set up and the training is so sharp and elite,” Bonner said.

“That’s the good thing about being in this team, everyone pushes harder to reach a high standard.

“Everything we are doing on the training pitch, hopefully we can bring it to the game.I’m really looking forward to getting started and getting stuck in.”

The 2023 AFLW Season kicks off in the first weekend of September with another Donegal star, Niamh McLaughlin, set to hook up with the Gold Coast Suns when the intercounty season ends here.