Past Irish Watch

[Grimreepah]

Australian Rules Football League of Ireland

Shane O'Rourke

Link

O’Rourke among trio to impress AFL Coach

19 July 2007

Meath youngster Shane O’Rourke is among a trio of GA stars which Brislane Lions manager Graeme Allan is planning to pilfer, with Carlow’s Brendan Murphy and Laois’ Conor Meredith also grabbing his attention.

Allan travelled to Ireland last weekend to target possible signings and was impressed with the performances of the trio who could follow in the footsteps of Tadgh Kennelly, Colm Begley, Setanta O’Halpin and Martin Clarke.

Murphy has already discussed a possible move ’Down Under’ with an AFL representative but Meredith and O’Rourke have yet to be approached.

Australian newspapers confirmed yesterday that the Lions’ are targeting O’Rourke as a possible recruit while Carlton are also supposed to be interested in the Simonstown clubman.

“Getting Irish guys in has become all the rage. You can bring in a rookie and you don’t have to go through the draft.

“The Irish guys are ready to play in 12 to 18 months and you don’t have to pay that much for them,” Damien Stafford of the Australian Daily mail said.

Meath’s Shane O’Rourke

Link

Aussie Lions eye Leinster cubs

Carlow minor footballer Brendan Murphy has confirmed that he was approached by a representative of an AFL team after his side's loss to Laois in the Leinster MFC final in Croke Park last Sunday.

Brisbane Lions head coach Graeme Allan is believed to have been in attendance at GAA headquarters to watch the giant 18-year-old.

"I met them alright, but it's only in the very initial stages," Murphy told the Carlow Nationalist newspaper.

The Rathvilly clubman played a starring role for the losing Leinster finalists, kicking two points from play from the Carlow midfield. That performance capped an amazing run for the youngster in the Leinster MFC this year; his virtuoso display in the quarter-final against Westmeath firmly placing him in the public consciousness.

"Brendan is one of the brightest prospects we have had in Carlow for many a day. We would hate to lose him because he is the future of Carlow football," Carlow PRO Tommy Murphy told Setanta Sports.

Rumours have also been circulating that Laois full-forward Conor Meredith has also been attracting the attention of scouts from down under. Meredith scored three goals and a point in the provincial final and would have caught the eye of any potential suitors.

Both youngsters have the physique required for the abrasive nature of Australian Rules Football. Laois has proved a happy hunting ground for the Brisbane Lions in the past, with former senior footballer Colm Begley currently starring for the Australian outfit's senior side.

Current Laois player Brendan Quigley also made the switch to the oval ball code with Brisbane, but returned to his native county for personal reasons.

Meanwhile, former Cork minor hurler Aisake O'Hailpín has made the transition to the senior list for the Melbourne-based Carlton Blues side.

The 21-year-old will join older brother Setanta in the senior ranks for the 2008 season. The Corkman has spent three years on the rookie list at Carlton but he impressed with Carlton's affiliate team Northern Bullants and was due to make his senior debut last month until injury scuppered his plans.

Link

Carlow Kid on AFL radar

Tuesday, July 24 2007 @ 01:46 AM EST
Contributed by: Troy Thompson
We recently asked who would be the next Martin Clarke? Well it just might be Brendan Murphy. Murphy who plays Gaelic football for Carlow admitted this week that he had discussions with an AFL club representative, and described the talks as ‘very preliminary’. The 18 year old Murphy, like Clarke is another young star of the Gaelic game.
Coincidentally Brisbane Lion’s footy Manager Graeme Allan is in Ireland and Brisbane are believed to be the club involved. Recently Brisbane Lions Coach Leigh Matthew indicated that they were likely to look for more Irish players on the back of Colm Begley’s rapid transition to the game. Begley no doubt would aid the transition of any new Irish rookie to come on board.
What will be interesting to see this year, is whether any sort of recruiting battle ensues or even if clubs unexpectedly draft Irish youngsters from under the noses of other clubs that have been courting them. It has also been rumoured that Laois’ Conor Meredith and Meath’s Shane O’Rourke are high on Graeme Allan, Gerard Sholly and other club recruiters' lists.
Murphy, an electrician, by trade is pictured with this article, applying his kicking skills for his Carlow side.

Link

Friday, 27 July 02:52 AET

Carlow minor star Brendan Murphy has confirmed that he will travel to Australia later this year to take up a trial offer with Aussie Rules outfit Brisbane Lions.

Murphy, who starred in Carlow's surprise run to this year's Leinster MFC final, said he is keen to 'give it a go' in Oz.

"They haven't made an offer yet, but they said they'd be in touch and it is likely to be a month's trial around October or November," he added.

If the Rathvilly youngster impresses in the trial, he could be offered a permanent deal at the beginning of 2008.

However, he will see out this campaign with the county minors, who will meet Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final on Saturday week.

Link

AFL poachers worry Irish

By Mark Stevens
July 31, 2007
ANGER is brewing in Ireland as AFL clubs step up poaching raids on young Gaelic stars.

Brisbane Lions is leading the charge, approaching towering teenage Carlow midfield player Brendan Murphy.

Murphy has confirmed he is willing to travel to Australia for a post-season trial with the Lions.

Spurred by the instant success of Gaelic convert Martin Clarke at Collingwood, other clubs are also circling.

County Meath stars Shane O'Rourke and Kevin Reilly and Laois full forward Conor Meredith have also attracted attention.

County boards in Ireland are becoming increasingly restless about the threat of losing their best talent.

Poaching is likely to become the hottest issue when the GAA and AFL meet in October - overtaking the future of the International Rules Series.

GAA secretary of County Carlow, Tommy O'Neill, said last night it would be "heart-wrenching" if Murphy was lured to the AFL.

Murphy, a 194cm 18-year-old, is considered the most exciting young talent in Ireland. His loss would be a huge blow to the county, which has a population of only 35,000.

"He's very good. He was in the Leinster Final for us over here a couple of weeks ago and he was best player on the field by a mile," O'Neill said. "He's very slight, but full of skill - left foot and right foot.

"It's one of the downsides over here of guys being so good that they're being looked at. It is heart-wrenching here, because we're small."

Lions football manager Graeme Allan and recruiting manager Craig Brittain recently returned from a talent-spotting trip to Ireland and Murphy is the No.1 priority.

"Yes, we have invited him over to have a look at our facilities and spend some time over here," Brisbane chief executive Michael Bowers said last night.

And the Lions, convinced Ireland is a fertile recruiting ground, is poised to invite others for testing.

"There are a couple of other people we've talked to and said 'you should pop over and say hello'," Bowers said.

Although some in Ireland encourage the Australian adventure, there is growing resistance.

Gaelic football's ruling body, the GAA, does not want recruiting to become a free-for-all with ad-hoc trials and camps.

The Lions narrowly lost Clarke to Collingwood and two years ago lured Colm Begley and Brendan Quigley.

Quigley returned home, but Begley played a part in Brisbane's demolition of Collingwood on Saturday night.

Reilly, 19, is believed to be strongly in Brisbane's sights. He played on Sydney's Barry Hall during last year's International Rules series and is understood to be keen for a trial.

Under AFL rules, clubs can select Irish players as international rookies - as long as they have turned 18.

Sydney coach Paul Roos yesterday predicted recruiting would flourish with International Rules now in recess.

"If the series doesn't go ahead I would say that the wealthier clubs will put a lot of resources into Ireland," Roos said.

The changes in AFL to a more running-style game has opened the door and made it more attractive for the amateur gaelic players, with five already with AFL clubs.

Right - Kevin Reilly

 

[Grimreepah]

Link

Clubs prepare to raid Irish talent

By Malcolm Conn
July 31, 2007
WEALTHY clubs are preparing for a mass raid on young Irish talent to get around the AFL's restrictive draft and salary cap rules, according to Paul Roos.
Sydney's coach believes that the only thing preventing large-scale recruiting from the Gaelic game now is the relationship between the AFL and the Gaelic Athletic Association.

However, if that relationship breaks down, as it threatens to do, Roos said clubs would feel unrestrained in their attitude to plundering Ireland's talent.

"That's going to be a big debate," Roos said yesterday. "One of the things that has probably stopped teams tapping in to Ireland with a lot of finance is respect for the hybrid game of international rules.

"If that's not going to go on I'd say teams are going to go holis bolis over there and there's going to be a mass approach by all clubs to get all the best kids out of Ireland."

Good Irish recruits are a real bonus for AFL clubs because they do not have to go through the draft. They are simply listed as rookies.

So Collingwood attracted teenage star Martin Clarke, who has made a dynamic AFL debut this season, at what would have been equivalent to about the 120th pick in the draft system.

Yet he is so talented he probably would have been ranked in the top two dozen prospects if he were Australian, a valuable first-round or second-round draft choice.
Collingwood's chief recruiting officer, Derek Hine, who brought Clarke to Australia, said the system created "a fair incentive" for teams to go after Irish players.

Much will hinge on a meeting between the AFL and the GAA in October.

The AFL is keen for the combined international rules concept between Australia and Ireland to continue each October.

However the Irish, who bump but do not tackle in their native game, have become increasingly incensed by what they regard as rough play by the Australians.

So angry were GAA officials following the 2006 series in Ireland, when an Irish player was knocked out after a Danyle Pearce tackle, that they have refused to play in Australia at the end of this season.

Officially the series has been suspended while the Irish look at revising the rules on tackling and physical contact but the AFL has yet to see any proposals.

"It's our view the series is extremely worthwhile," an AFL spokesman said yesterday.

Indeed, the past three two-matches series in Australia, played at Subiaco Oval and Telstra Dome, have been sold out.

And the two largest crowds to watch sporting events in Ireland, 76,000 and 74,000, were both for international rules matches at Croke Park.

"If the series doesn't go ahead I think all clubs, and certainly the wealthy clubs, will put more resources into Ireland," Roos said.

Following the initial impact of Melbourne's Brownlow medallist Jim Stynes and key defender Sean Wight in the '90s, Sydney's Tadhg Kennelly has popularised AFL in Ireland to the point where it is televised regularly. There is strong media interest from Ireland, which has only been enhanced by the impact of Clarke.

Hine claims Collingwood gets a dozen emails a week from Ireland requesting merchandise.

"I'm always being contacted by players from Ireland who want to come out and play professionally in Australia," Hine said.

The biggest difference between the games is that while the Gaelic code, which uses a round ball, is amateur, the average wage for an established AFL player is now more than $200,000 a year.

Brisbane football manager Graeme Allan, who returned from Ireland only last Wednesday after a two-week mission, claimed it was a fertile recruiting ground.

"There are a lot of players over there. What Roosy says is totally right," Allan said.

"Their game is very similar to our game so they're really brought up playing our game. It's not that hard to adjust."

While not all AFL clubs have official involvement in Ireland, Allan believes they will soon.

However Hine warned of attempting to gain instant results with the young talent on offer.

"Family is a very big thing with Irish guys," Hine said. "You have to win the trust of their parents and have to be very aware of the 'go home' factor."

 

[Grimreepah]

Link

Irish junior to trial with Lions

12:57 PM Fri 27 July, 2007
By Catherine Murphy

THE BRISBANE Lions' Colm Begley could find himself with Irish company in the not so distant future as Carlow junior star Brendan Murphy has confirmed that he will travel to Australia later this year for a trial with the Queensland club.
Murphy, who starred in his county’s run to this year’s provincial under-18 final, says he is keen to “give it a go” in Australia.

“They haven’t made an offer yet, but they said they’d be in touch and it is likely to be a month’s trial around October or November,” Murphy said.

Should the Rathvilly teenager impress at the trials and decide to pursue an AFL career, his departure from the Emerald Isle would be seen as a huge loss to his county team Carlow, where he has been heralded as the team’s brightest talent for many years.

However, he will see out his side’s campaign in the under-18 championship and will be playing when Carlow meets Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final on Saturday week.[/COLOR]
Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews confirmed that his club’s recruiting staff had been looking at Irish talent.
“The recruiting people only got back (from Ireland) on Wednesday and we left town last night so we haven’t had a chance to catch up with them… I think there’s a couple of players over there that they’re interested in giving a go to.”
Matthews says the success of Irish players currently playing AFL has given him confidence that ‘the Irish experiment’ is a worthwhile venture.
“Looking at what Marty Clarke’s done this year, you couldn’t believe that someone wouldn’t ever have played our sport and come over a be quite a good player.

“I was amazed at Colm who looked like he picked it up pretty quick but what Marty’s done is unbelievable.”

 

[Grimreepah]

Link

O’Rourke senior quells AFL rumours

21 July 2007

Colm O’Rourke has quashed speculation that his son Shane will be following in the footsteps of Tadgh Kennelly and heading Down Under to play in the AFL.

There had been reports circulating that Shane O’Rourke, Conor Meredith and Brendan Murphy would be approached in regard to a possible move to the AFL but the Meath legend was keen to stress that his son was going nowhere.

“It’s all a load of speculation. The recruitment officers are around looking at players but I can tell you now that he is not one bit interested in going down there,” O’Rourke said.

While O’Rourke may not be heading to Australia, one player who could be making the move is Meredith, after the Laois County Board revealed that they would not stand in his way if he chose to go down that path.

“It is a good opportunity and I can’t blame young lads for going, that’s life. We would prefer if he stayed and we would advise him to but it is their life and you can see the opportunity,” said a source within the county.

 

[Grimreepah]

Link

Aussie scouts Carlow's Murphy

Carlow minor footballer Brendan Murphy has met with officials from an Australian Rules club with regards to a possible move down under.
The 18-year-old midfielder has emerged as the latest Irish player to be linked with an AFL club.
An apprentice electrician, Murphy met with representatives from a club, widely believed to be Brisbane Lions as their manager Graeme Allan is in Ireland this week, but admitted that discussions are only in the "very initial stages."
The Rathvilly clubman shone in Carlow's narrow Leinster minor final defeat to Laois at Croke Park last Sunday, with Allan an interested spectator.
But putting concerns over a possible code-switch aside, Murphy has declared himself available for the Barrowsiders' upcoming All-Ireland quarter-final against Galway.
There are currently five Irish players plying their trade in Australia with the group including Sydney Swans favourite Tadhg Kennelly, Carlton duo Setanta and Aisake Ó hAilpín, Brisbane's Colm Begley and Collingwood's rising star nominee Martin Clarke.
Luring young footballing talents from these shores to Australia has become a popular pursuit in recent years with as many as 10 AFL clubs now employing Irish agents.
Gerard Sholly, who played a key role in getting Begley and Brendan Quigley to Brisbane in 2005, as well as assisting in the move of the Ó hAilpíns and Clarke, is also believed to be currently on the lookout for Irish players for Carlton.

Carlow's Brendan Murphy considering a move down under

 

[Quigley]

Great effort Grim.

At 194 and skilled off either foot Murphy could be an interesting prospect. Hopefully he likes it and sticks it out. The young irish guys are usually good runners and he might fit in very well with what the coaching staff are trying to do.

 

[Grimreepah]

Link

HANLEY TO HIT FOR OZ

Mike Finnerty & Edwin McGreal
Tuesday, 31 July 2007

MAYO football is bracing itself for the loss of one of the county’s best young talents after Pierce Hanley was offered a two-year Australian Rules contract earlier this month.
The 18 year old Ballaghaderreen star was approached by scouts from the Brisbane Lions after Mayo’s defeat to Derry in the recent All-Ireland SFC Qualifier.
He is due to travel to Australia in late October, early November to sign up to a two-year deal and told The Mayo News last night that he is excited at the prospect.
“I’ve no final decision made. It’s not guaranteed that I’m going out but it is probable,” said Hanley. “The chance of being a full-time professional athlete is hard to turn down. It’s hard to believe that I will be paid to play football. You grow up in Ireland playing football as a hobby and expect to be working in an office or wherever during the week.
“They [the Brisbane Lions] came to me last Thursday week and it really came as a surprise,” he added. “I was shocked. A coach/scout came from Australia and called to the house and showed me a DVD. I had had no other contact with any club up to that point and I was very surprised when it came along, from nowhere.”
Hanley only made his inter-county senior debut against Cavan last month but caught the eye with his explosive pace and strong-running game.
The Ballagh’ teenager first came to prominence two years ago when touring Australia with the Irish Compromise Rules U-17 team. Hanley was awarded the Ron Barassi medal (for the best player of the series) and was known to have attracted the attention of a number of AFL scouts in the process.
“People had told me after the U-17 tour that clubs would be interested but up until last week I hadn’t heard anything,” he admitted. “I have to sign for the season in November and I might go out beforehand. I haven’t seen the contract yet so I will have to wait until I receive that.
“The prospect of Ballaghaderreen winning a county title was one big thing that made me sit up and think. There were lots of things holding me back. The months I could go out to see what I made of the place were August and October. August would have interfered with the club and in October I’d be missing college. I really want to win a county title with Ballaghaderreen, that would be great to do before I go.”

 

[Grimreepah]

Junior International Rules Team

Pierce Hanley
(Mayo)
Height: 1.84m
Weight: 78 Kg

 

[Horsebox]

He's a good bit bigger now. Very strong runner as well.

 

[Grimreepah]

Link

Brisbane football manager Graeme Allan, who returned from Ireland only last Wednesday after a two-week mission, claimed it was a fertile recruiting ground.

“There are a lot of players over there. What Roosy says is totally right,” Allan said. “Their game is very similar to our game so they’re really brought up playing our game. It’s not that hard to adjust.”

The development comes as the Brisbane Lions admitted Carlow’s Brendan Murphy is their number one priority after a talent-spotting trip to Ireland.

Allan, who was spotted at the Leinster minor final with recruiting manager Craig Brittain, spent several days approaching rising stars from around the country.

“Yes, we have invited him over to have a look at our facilities and spend some time over here,”

Brisbane chief executive Michael Bowers said yesterday.

And the Lions, convinced Ireland is a fertile recruiting ground, are poised to invite others for testing.

“There are a couple of other people we’ve talked to and said ‘you should pop over and say hello’,” Bowers added.

One of those is Mayo teenager Pierce Hanley who admitted in an interview with the Mayo News yesterday that he had been approached with an offer of a two-year contract by the Brisbane club. The Ballaghaderreen man, who made his senior debut for Mayo against Cavan, could travel to Australia in late October/early November to sign a deal.

“I’ve no final decision made. It’s not guaranteed that I’m going out but it is probable,” said Hanley.

“The chance of being a full-time professional athlete is hard to turn down. It’s hard to believe that I will be paid to play football. You grow up in Ireland playing football as a hobby and expect to be working in an office or wherever during the week.

“They (the Brisbane Lions) came to me last Thursday week and it really came as a surprise,” he added. “I was shocked. A coach/scout came from Australia and called to the house and showed me a DVD. I had had no other contact with any club up to that point and I was very surprised when it came along, from nowhere.”

Hanley won the Ron Barassi medal with the under 17 Compromise Rules team two years ago when he was voted player of the series and has been attracting interest since then.

Pierce Hanley

COUNTY: Mayo

CLUB: Ballaghderren

 

[dlanod]

It's with mixed feelings that I view our poaching of the Irish... On one hand it does seem we're strip-mining the top level of talent out of the Irish leagues, but on the plus side we're offering these guys a chance to earn a very decent paypacket playing a game close to the one they love, as well as improving our team. I can always hope that once they've wrapped up their AFL career they can go back and more than pay back the Irish leagues.

It's very reminiscint of the Aussie league stars heading over to England to play at the moment, actually.

 

[BigCat2]

I'm with you there. There's rumours of Tadgh going back soon, and I think I read one interview where Colm said he might return home when he's 28 or something.

Since the breakdown in AFL-GAA relations and before international recruiting is regulated, there exists a small window that you can get whoever you like. For me there's no moral right or wrong about this - it's natural that every club seeks to gain advantages wherever possible (and if some clubs decide that looking in Ireland is not in their best interest, so be it), and it's not like these young Irish guys are being forced to leave home at gunpoint. In the above interview Hanley expresses his delight at the possibility of being a professional footballer.

The best young Australian basketballers and soccer players may look to go to USA or Europe respectively to ply their trade at the highest level. To me it's a similar thing - you can't blame people or the system if guys want to explore their options.

Oh, and who else thinks Brendan Murphy in that photo looks like Cameron Wood? There's a certain determination written in those furrowed brows too.

 

[Hollow Knight]

It's with mixed feelings that I view our poaching of the Irish... On one hand it does seem we're strip-mining the top level of talent out of the Irish leagues...

At the risk of appearing like an evil capitalist... stuff em.

All we're doing is offering these kids an opportunity that the GAA is unable to do.

We live in a global economy now where your skills and talents can be significantly more valuable in other places if you are willing to look.

Can't blame these players for being attracted by the offer of being paid to do what they love.

 

[Grimreepah]

Link

Lions in first for Irish Talents

Wednesday, August 01 2007 @ 11:22 AM EST
Contributed by: Troy Thompson
Views: 40 It seems that as previously reported here Brendan Murphy will be coming out to check out the Brisbane Lion’s facilities (as Martin Clarke did at Collingwood 13 months ago) after a visit from Gabby Allen recently and confirmed by Brisbane’s Michael Bowers yesterday. Also yesterday it was confirmed in many Irish papers including the Mayo News (Hanley hits for Oz) that Pierce Hanley has been offered a two year contract to join the Brisbane Lions.
Hanley plays Gaelic football for county team Ballaghaderreen, and hopes to win a title with them this year. Timing looks to be an issue for the gifted youth to come and view the Lions with both the championships and his studies both on when the Lions would like him to come out to Australia. Although he has been offered a contract he is yet to see it, and review for details but he would need to sign up before the National draft. Hanley is also a Ron Barassi medal winner for best player of the series in the Under 17 – International Rules series against Australia.
The Australian media has been focussing more on the Irish recruiting in the past weeks and speaking with the recruiters and gauging the feeling in Ireland. Conversely the Irish media have been reporting the flurry of activity and noting the effect it may have on their game. Yesterday it was widely reported that Sydney coach Paul Roos felt that without the resumption of the International Rules series the recruiting of Irish talent would become even more widespread. A view we have held here for some time – that the International Rules series is really the only bargaining chip that the GAA have at their disposal and that it must resume if they wish to try to stem the tide. The GAA are due to meet the AFL in the US in October. We would also speculate that the trip will allow the AFL delegates to attend the USAFL’s 10th Anniversary National Championships in Louisville Kentucky.
And while it looks like the Lions are the first in to encourage these two Irish youth to come to Australia to play for them, we still wonder if there will be moves by other clubs to come in and offer something more attractive at the last minute?

 

[BigCat2]

And while it looks like the Lions are the first in to encourage these two Irish youth to come to Australia to play for them, we still wonder if there will be moves by other clubs to come in and offer something more attractive at the last minute?

Hmm this could be a problem with rival clubs poaching at the last minute. We'll need to hope that Gubby et al have done a good enough job, but also our offer needs to be good enough. Thinking from the Irish lad's point of view, there's plenty of reason to go for a substantially better offer.

The bit about Hanley having been offered a contract but not yet read it - that's a bit strange. I'd make sure he reads it, and if he's keen to come out, for him to sign it soon.

 

[xplo]

Yeah, it's not like they're getting raided from a tiny African banana economy that could never even contemplate competing for their services -- the Irish economy competes highly effectively with other European nations. Their controlling body has taken a purely philosophical, almost dogmatic approach to it's structure.

That's admirable and I respect the position they're taking, but they don't exist in a bubble. It would be hard to imagine any more than a maximum of three or four ever being at any club, but they'll be the better kids.

 

[Hollow Knight]

I wouldn't say that the GAA is being merely philosophical or dogmatic with their refusal to go pro.

The current GAA has over 60 teams in the county system, would be very hard to sustain that in a meaningful way if they went pro.

They'll likely end up accepting the poaching of a few elite players as the lesser of two evils.

 

[xplo]

It's not like you have to flick a switch and turn the whole thing into the NFL. English football has a structure that reaches down into what amounts to small, almost village clubs. Theoretically they are in the same system as Man-U but they obviously operate in a completely different economic universe. Pro Golf is the same in some ways.

I'd imagine the GAA would end up with a scaled down version of that. Larger clubs would would operate with bigger budgets and drift towards the highest division, where they'd be the ones luring players from the smaller clubs in lower leagues.

 

[Grimreepah]

Link

One with the lot … and Mayo

THE news that gifted young Gaelic footballer Brendan Murphy is reportedly heading out to the Brisbane Lions for a look-see at the end of the season apparently sent a few ripples of angst through Ireland's 32 counties this week. But in County Mayo, they're fuming about news that their own bright young thing, 18-year-old Pierce Hanley, pictured, reportedly has been offered a two-year deal by the Lions. "The chance of being a full-time professional athlete is hard to turn down," Hanley told the Mayo News. "It's hard to believe that I will be paid to play football. You grow up in Ireland playing football as a hobby and expect to be working in an office or wherever during the week. (The Lions) came to me last Thursday week and it really came as a surprise. I was shocked. A coach/scout came from Australia and called to the house and showed me a DVD. I had had no other contact with any club up to that point and I was very surprised when it came along, from nowhere." Hanley won the Ron Barassi Medal (player of the series) two years ago when touring Australia with the Irish under-17 team.

 

[Horsebox]

"But in County Mayo, they're fuming..." Very shoddy journalism. Where is the evidence that they are fuming? Are they disappointed to be losing a good young player? Absolutely. But fuming? Gimme a break.

 

[Hollow Knight]

"But in County Mayo, they're fuming..." Very shoddy journalism. Where is the evidence that they are fuming? Are they disappointed to be losing a good young player? Absolutely. But fuming? Gimme a break.

Well I don't think the journalist actually implied fumes were coming out of their ears.

 

[BigCat2]

AFL may reconsider Irish poaching agreement


THE rule which prohibits AFL teams from recruiting Irish Gaelic players under 18 years of age could be abolished if the International Rules Series is not resurrected.
The GAA and the AFL are due to meet in Melbourne in October to discuss the future of the International Rules series.
High on the agenda is Australia's growing interest in scouting teenage Gaelic talent and its impact on the amateur Irish competition.
The relationship between the two sporting codes will be severely frayed if the International Rules series does not continue.
In the absence of any working relationship, the age limit for a player to be recruited for Australian football could revert back to the standard age limit which is 15-years-old.
This would leave the door open for AFL club scouts to plunder Ireland's most promising, young talent.
The AFL's international scouting rule prohibits the recruiting of players under 15 years of age, but has kept the age limit at 18 in a bid to preserve Ireland's native game and to maintain a healthy relationship between the two indigenous sporting bodies.
"In other countries such as South Africa, for example, players can be scouted at 15 years of age," AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan says.
"That's the international scholarship rule but it doesn't apply to Ireland.
"Our age limit in Ireland is set at 18 years of age. That's a bit older than our normal draft age. That's the one barrier that we've got in place that players can't be signed until their 18th year and come out in their 19th.
"We're continually trying to work with the GAA because we understand their issues."
The GAA and the AFL plan to meet face to face in October and conduct a complete review of the international series.
Sheehan insists that the AFL is keen to preserve their relationship with the GAA and revive the series.
"We value our relationship with the GAA. We've had a 10-year relationship during which time we've seen the senior teams and the youths play," he says.
"Played in the right spirit, the series is certainly a wonderful spectacle …
"Scouting is an issue that has been discussed at recent meetings and we'd expect that it would again be on the agenda."
The AFL is preparing material to its concerns regarding current recruiting rules and are waiting on a submission from the GAA which includes feedback from past international rules coaches.
"For us to come together and drag together a set of rules is near impossible but we've managed to achieve that given that we've still got a few frustrations. That can happen even in our established codes.
"In Gaelic footy I dare say there are many debates about what's right and wrong in terms of referees' interpretations just like in our own game."
Sheehan believes the violence which marred the 2006 series, and caused the GAA to pull the plug on the hybrid game, is down to a competitive nature and cultural differences.
"In one country a bump to someone's chest can be seen as normal behaviour where as in another country it might be seen as an affront similar to punching someone in the face," he says.
"The teams are playing to win a big game of football, a big game of international sport and sometimes that can bring out, even with the best coaching, some of the things that you've been brought up to do in your own code.
"When you get the clash of cultures, the clash of codes in front of a big audience, it can end in flash points as we saw in the first 10 minutes of that game last year."
In the meantime, Sheehan is hopeful that the two codes can overcome their differences and proceed with the series.
"I think that anyone who's had an association at senior or youth level in Australia or in Ireland with the series would have that view," he says.
"I truly believe that the chance to represent your country is important for players and officials. From that point of view anyone would hope that the issues that have been raised can be resolved."

http://www.afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=48587

 

[danielcan]

Brisbane Lions chase Hanley deal
Wednesday, 1 August 2007 10:42

Mayo forward Pierce Hanley has become the latest young Irish footballer to be linked with a move to an Aussie Rules club.

According to a report in the Mayo News, the 18-year-old star has been offered a two-year contract by AFL outfit Brisbane Lions, the club of former Laois footballer Colm Begley.

Brisbane are also chasing the signature of Carlow minor Brendan Murphy after his display in the recent Leinster MFC final against Laois.

Hanley was approached by Brisbane scouts after Mayo's All-Ireland SFC qualifier defeat to Derry on July 14.

The Ballaghaderreen clubman was Mayo's minor captain last year and only made his debut for the seniors in last month's qualifier win over Cavan.
Hanley is yet to confirm whether he will accept the offer from the Lions but it is anticipated that he will travel to Australia in October or November to meet with club officials and finalise the contract.

'I've no final decision made. It's not guaranteed that I'm going out but it is probable,' he told the Mayo News.

'The chance of being a full-time professional athlete is hard to turn down. It's hard to believe that I will be paid to play football. You grow up in Ireland playing football as a hobby and expect to be working in an office or wherever during the week.

'They (Brisbane) came to me last Thursday week and it really came as a surprise - I was shocked. A coach came from Australia and called to the house and showed me a DVD,' he added.

'I had had no other contact with any club up to that point and I was very surprised when it came along, from nowhere.'

Hanley won the Ron Barassi medal for the best player of the series when he starred for the Irish U-17 International Rules team against Australia two years ago.

He is hoping to guide Ballaghaderreen to a county title before he flies Down Under in the autumn.

Mayo forward Pierce Hanley is being pursued by AFL club the Brisbane Lions

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2007/0801/hanleyp.html

 

[danielcan]

Pierce Hanley can kick

[youtube]dnOwEEa63EI[/youtube]

 

[xplo]

Begley believes AFL is a great opportunity
By: Damien Stannard and Terry Reilly
STRADBALLY’S Colm Begley has three words of advice for anyone thinking about taking up a contract with an Aussie Rules side - “go for it”.

The Brisbane Lions player who left Ireland two seasons ago has enjoyed the transition to the new game and his side made the playoff spots for the first time this season with a big win at the weekend.

“It’s a great opportunity,” the energetic Brisbane Lions defender said.

http://www.laois-nationalist.ie/news/story.asp?j=26491