The number 45 sits firmly in Geelong football club folklore, most notably made famous by Cats legend Cameron Ling during his 246 game career with the club.

With fiery red locks and a deadly left foot, Ling made the number 45 his own as he went on to become a three time premiership player, a premiership captain, an All-Australian and a Carji Greeves medallist.  

But there is another player continuing the connection between red hair and the 45 jersey, with Irish AFLW recruit Aishling Moloney building her own legacy in the famous number.

Appropriately nicknamed ‘Lingy’ after arriving at Kardinia Park, Moloney spoke to K Rock this week about the realisation of what the number means to the Geelong football club.

"I was back home in Ireland and a scout wanted to give me the number 45,” Moloney told K rock. 

"I grabbed number 45, I didn't really care because the numbers I had back home were already taken.

"When I got here they asked, why did you pick 45? I said I don't know, let me check it out. They asked if I knew anything about the number 45, I told them no.

"I was sent a picture of Cameron Ling, and I thought the hair and everything looked similar and I was told that Lingy was a bit of a big dog in the club.

"After learning about all his accolades and what he has done for the club, I felt a bit of pressure when I started getting called Lingy." 

Moloney made her AFLW debut on Saturday night, kicking her first goal and assisting in a number of others to show why she was touted as a high profile recruit. 

The 25 year old recalled parts of her debut, telling K rock it was an incredible night. 

"It was a big rush running out at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night, I didn't really know what was going on to be honest,” Moloney said. 

“Not only playing in the stadium, but the crowd as well which was different to back home. 

"The jumper presentation with Mum and Dad threw me a bit as well, getting used to the football has been a challenge.

"It's crazy stuff."