Kennelly to Return Home.

[rebelcounty]

Kennelly to return home
by Oli Skehan , 12 November 2008



Tadhg Kennelly is to return home to Ireland after the next Aussie Rules season in the AFL.
The Listowel-born Sydney Swans defender has undergone groin and shoulder surgery since his side were bundled out of the finals by the Western Bulldogs in mid-September.
"I want to go home and play Gaelic football and do what my dad and brother have done, win premierships back at home," the 27-year-old Kerryman admitted.

 

[vonn]

oh my god noooooooooooooooooooo
does anyone else think this is why we got ryhce shaw?? to like, take kennelly's position cuz roos new he was leavin or sum shit like that?

 

[TripleB]

.....cuz roos new he was leavin or sum shit like that?

It's been pretty well documented that Tadhg will go home at some stage. I wouldn't read too much into it, I can only assume it's an Irish paper article and Tadhg would be telling them what they want to hear.

I'd say if injuries hamper him again next season, he will go home for sure. With the no tackling Gaelic game he should be able to get thru it no problems.

If he has a good year and Brendan Murphy gets up to speed and can find a place alongside him in the backline late in the season, the romance of playing alongside a fellow Irishmen and good mate may sway him to give it another year in 2010.

 

[astro_toby]

i know you guys must be shattered to hear this - but honestly, huge to the guy

really noble thing for him to do - he could have stayed here and kept collecting the huge cash cow he could have claimed for another 5 years - but instead he wants to return home (while he is still soimewhat near his peak ) and reward the competition and his family name for giving him the opportunity to come here and earn excellent money.

would be the equal of Vinnie Grella or something returning to play for the Victory when he was 28-29 - instead of using the a-league as a retirement ground.

 

[bedford]

i know you guys must be shattered to hear this - but honestly, huge to the guy

really noble thing for him to do - he could have stayed here and kept collecting the huge cash cow he could have claimed for another 5 years - but instead he wants to return home (while he is still soimewhat near his peak ) and reward the competition and his family name for giving him the opportunity to come here and earn excellent money.

would be the equal of Vinnie Grella or something returning to play for the Victory when he was 28-29 - instead of using the a-league as a retirement ground.

Who are the victory ?

 

[Jizza9]

I thought it was common knowledge he was going home after 09, When his current contract runs out. Or was I just thinking negatively?

 

[is2SWaNz]

Why am I not surprised that Kennelly will be leaving after his contract expires at the end of the next year?

He said so himself when he signed on back in 2006 that 2009 will be his last year.

 

[BIGBEZ]

It's been pretty well documented that Tadhg will go home at some stage. I wouldn't read too much into it, I can only assume it's an Irish paper article and Tadhg would be telling them what they want to hear.

I'd say if injuries hamper him again next season, he will go home for sure. With the no tackling Gaelic game he should be able to get thru it no problems.

If he has a good year and Brendan Murphy gets up to speed and can find a place alongside him in the backline late in the season, the romance of playing alongside a fellow Irishmen and good mate may sway him to give it another year in 2010.

I think the success of the surgery will have a big say in it, how old do they play till in Ireland?

 

[magic.merkin]

Why am I not surprised that Kennelly will be leaving after his contract expires at the end of the next year?

He said so himself when he signed on back in 2006 that 2009 will be his last year.

exactly i have lost count how many times, threads like this and news paper articles have come out every 6 months saying so.

2009 is the end of him. that's it final.

i accepted this many years ago, just let him go.

/wipes tear

 

[BIGBEZ]

I gotta admit, he did have a glint in his eye(more than usual) when around his fellow Irish men during the international rules, cant blame him if he does!

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

He helped you to a flag. I don't think any Saints fans would mind seeing Roo head to the GC if he got us a flag!

Even though it's a completley different scenario, I can sorta relate.

Good on him.

 

[Dylza94]

Yeah he said this was his last AFL contract when he signed it 2 years ago so this is no suprise to me.

 

[Perth Swans]

Link?

This dude is unlisted. Those people are a bit nutty. It might not be true, so don't worry until it becomes official or something.

Also, I couldn't find a link anywhere.

 

[Sid]

Good on him, knowing what he wants and doing it. He's done a lot for the swans and will definitely be missed. I hope he wins that premiership.

 

[robbieando]

2009 will be the last year of his current contract with the Swans which when he signed he said he would then return home to Ireland. He was clear that was his plan when he sign this contact and NOTHING has changed (despite multiple articles coming out of Ireland since then claming to be an exlusive that he has told the Irish Media he is returning when he stated that fact in 2006 when he signed this current contract).

Its the reason we signed Mattner and Shaw, to be prepared for 2010 when he is gone. He has made his decision and good luck to him because he is entitled to make it and for him this is the decision he wanted to make because he wants to win a All-Ireland with Kerry and be closer to his family. He goes with the clubs blessing and we are already preparing his exit.

Sad to see him go, but he certainly has given us more than 100%.

 

[Bonz]

Who are the victory ?

Melbourne Victory Soccer club (in the a-leage)


As for Kennely... I think all of us are going to shed a fair few tears when he goes but look at all he has done for the club.

He has helped us to a premiership .

He has given us strong links to Ireland (Murphy and Cooney)

Has provided Great Leadership on and off our football field.

I think he has come and done what he set out to achieve down here.

OH and some great commentary

And at least we will see him in international rules matches

 

[disgruntled goat]

A great player, a great Swan, a premiership Swan, but injuries have greatly limited him, particularly in the season just passed, and I remain very dubious about his future.
I fear his injuries have already ensured he will never be as good a player as he promised to be up to 2006.
He'll be remembered very fondly, and obviously has a place in Swans folklore, but I just wonder if it's more out of a kind of blind faith rather than any real evidence that anyone on this board is talking about him returning to the field as capable as he once was.

 

[SM]

Except for the piece on Fox News last night where he said he was already out running around for the first time in years for the pre-season, when in the past few years he's only started running in January? To me that's a good sign that he'll be ready to go at the start of next year to give it his all in his last year.

 

[BIGBEZ]

Link?

This dude is unlisted. Those people are a bit nutty. It might not be true, so don't worry until it becomes official or something.

Also, I couldn't find a link anywhere.

RebelCounty is very busy on all the international boards and seems like a decent bloke, hes probably unlisted as hes from Ireland, I cant see why hed make it up, even though its hardly breaking news!

 

[bzparkes]

Link?

This dude is unlisted. Those people are a bit nutty. It might not be true, so don't worry until it becomes official or something.

Also, I couldn't find a link anywhere.

Dude he said it when he signed his last contract, not exactly new news.

 

[scottwade]

I'd imagine the timing of the article wouldn't be unrelated to the fact that Tommy Walsh (Gaelic Football's young player of the year) is coming out to try out with St Kilda.

The GAA needs some good news.

PS I know Tadhg has said a number of times this will be his last contract, but I would think when the time comes, the fact that he is potentially walking away from a $1 million contract may give him at least a moment's reconsideration.

 

[kira]

A great player, a great Swan, a premiership Swan, but injuries have greatly limited him, particularly in the season just passed, and I remain very dubious about his future.
I fear his injuries have already ensured he will never be as good a player as he promised to be up to 2006.
He'll be remembered very fondly, and obviously has a place in Swans folklore, but I just wonder if it's more out of a kind of blind faith rather than any real evidence that anyone on this board is talking about him returning to the field as capable as he once was.

don't think anyone is really expecting him to play as well as he used to, but will definitely be remembered in the highest regard

as a side note, to this thread... i remember reading marty clark struggled to play a half-decent game back for his county after the afl season last year (and he is supposedly chris judd talented in that game)..... hopefully tadgh can still get a game in gaelic football when he is done here

 

[BIGBEZ]

I'd imagine the timing of the article wouldn't be unrelated to the fact that Tommy Walsh (Gaelic Football's young player of the year) is coming out to try out with St Kilda.

The GAA needs some good news.

PS I know Tadhg has said a number of times this will be his last contract, but I would think when the time comes, the fact that he is potentially walking away from a $1 million contract may give him at least a moment's reconsideration.

I agree with that, I still think alots riding on this surgery!
Id still like to know how long they play till in Ireland, youd think it would be longer than AFL, its not as hard on the body I wouldnt think, I still think if he stays at the Swans a few more years, he could still do both, injurys aside!

 

[TheGong]

I'd imagine the timing of the article wouldn't be unrelated to the fact that Tommy Walsh (Gaelic Football's young player of the year) is coming out to try out with St Kilda.

The GAA needs some good news.

PS I know Tadhg has said a number of times this will be his last contract, but I would think when the time comes, the fact that he is potentially walking away from a $1 million contract may give him at least a moment's reconsideration.

If he is going home it would be nice if he could do us one more favour.

Give Tommy Walsh a call like he did with Brendan Murphy and tell him that he would be much better off at the Swans. This guy was sensational in the all Ireland junior final against Tyrone.

 

[Horsebox]

I agree with that, I still think alots riding on this surgery!
Id still like to know how long they play till in Ireland, youd think it would be longer than AFL, its not as hard on the body I wouldnt think, I still think if he stays at the Swans a few more years, he could still do both, injurys aside!

You don't get many senior intercounty players over the age of 32 nowadays really. A few exceptons but it's a young mans game. You have to bear in mind though that as a guy gets older, develops his career, gets married, has kids etc. the time and effort involved in playing becomes more of a burden from year to year. Players don't retire because their bodies have given up. They just can't really give the required level of commitment anymore.