Gaelic players in the AFL

[Westy Boy]

Just saw an article on real footy, and (even though I just posted it on the doggies board-its going well BTW G4E- thanks for asking!), I just wanted to get everyones opinion on the issue.

The doggies and demons are poised to recruit a couple of them, and i'm a bit worried

that we may be wasting our time in trying to find the next Jim Stynes.

I'm hoping i have to eat my words BIG TIME!!!!

And BTW- does anyone know whether that takes away one of our "normal" national/preseason draft picks?

Anyway- here's the article http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/20001018/A59635-2000Oct18.html

 

[Bloodstained Angel]

Its worth the risk to experiment with these guys I think.

They are all exceptional athletes and from what I understand they have all attended a draft-camp-style trial session in Dublin where they were all thoroughly checked out and passed as more than suitable for Australian footy.

Is it really a waste of time looking for the next Jim Stynes ? - I don't think so, its worth pursuing because even if you have to go through a couple of duds, if you uncover a player of Stynes calibre then its all worth while.

Here in Sydney we have a young guy called Tadgh Kenelley (pronounced 'ti-shhhh') who we recruited last year.

An outstanding athelete, Kenelley is an ex Irish junior champion at 1500 and 800m, was rated by the GAA as the best young footballer in 1999, since he has been with Sydney he has rapidly adapted to the Australian game and expect to see him playing Ansett Cup and Senior footy this coming season.

Just a footnote to Tadgh Kenelley - He has sacrificed a helluva lot to come down to Australia and play Aussie Rules with the Swans. His family tried to talk him out of it, his county or indeed the GAA itself was very sorry to see him go and Blackburn Rovers in the English Soccer wre offering him 2.5 million pounds to come and play soccer in England with them.

Kenelley said no to Blackburn because he 'didn't like the game very much' and he turned his back on all that to play Aussie Rules.

says it all really ...

cheers

 

[sainter]

BSA,

I hope he does very well when he gets his chance. I didn't realise he was that highly rated and had given up that much to play Aussie rules.

Westy Boy,

I read somewhere that they are put onto an "International" Rookie list. I think this is the same as the normal rookie list, meaning they can't play seniors unless promoted to the senior list, except they are paid a bit more. I would imagine the Syndey player BSA was talking about, Tadgh Kenelley, is on the same list.

Good luck with the experiment. I'm sure it will turn out better than Dermott McNichol (I think thats his name), who played a few games for the saints in the 1980s wearing number 60.

 

[Shinboners]

Getting another Jim Stynes will be like winning the lottery. There was a story about how Stynes just practiced and practiced the skill of running and bouncing our ball. The Irish players not only have to get used to the shape of our ball, but the physical nature of our game.

When you think about it, there's something like 16 teams in the TAC competition...meaning that there's at least 500 juniors in that competition....not counting what's happening outside of Victoria. They've been playing the game since they could stand up, and out of all these kids, only a handful make it to an AFL club. Out of them, maybe 1 in 3 could make it to senior footy, and out of those that do make it into a senior side, how many become regulars and then consistent players, and then champions?

What is good though, is that there is going to be a greater awareness of our game in Ireland, and if we can get their kids to come over to our country at a young age and take up our sport, then who knows?

 

[Guest]

BSA

Can't wait to see Tadgh Kenelley play, I wonder how good or bad his kicking style is.

It will be interesting to see the GAA's reaction in the future if too many players start making the trip to Australia. They might have a rethink on their "amatuer" status and start paying their players.

 

[Shinboners]

Western Bulldogs have just nominated 19 year old Bernie Collins from Cork as their international rookie list player.