Setanta’s big adventure
7:43:18 PM Thu 24 June, 2004
Kate Telfer
carltonfc.com.au
Life is a little different for Setanta O’hAilpin after moving to Australia from Ireland to play AFL. As if moving to Australia was not a big enough step, O’hAilpin had never played Australian Football in his life.
Born in Sydney, to an Irish father and Fijian mother, O’hAilpin moved to Ireland as a youngster where he grew up to become a national hurling star with his County team, Cork. In 2003 Cork was runner up in the National Competition and Setanta won Ireland’s Young Hurler of the Year Award and was selected in the National All-Star team. He had Ireland at his fee, akin to Andrew Walker being selected in the All Australian team and Carlton playing in the Grand Final in 2005 (here's hoping). Setanta wanted the world at his feet. He realised that hurling was not a professional sport and decided to move to Australia to pursue his AFL career. "Although I grew up with hurling and I love it, AFL is a professional sport where hurling is not, I am grateful to have this opportunity to play a professional sport". Thankfully the Carlton Football Club had been talking with Setanta and it was Optus Oval that was his destination when he arrived in Australia.
That was back in late November last year when his ambition was to show enough to the coaching staff to be included as a Rookie for the 2004 season with the Carlton Football Club. Sure, it was a big gamble for him but he was determined to make it work. His trial with Carlton was almost kept as a secret for a number of weeks. Even when the Irish journalists commenced calling the Club about rumours that their Hurling star was training with Carlton, the response was that he had a 'bit of a run' while he was out here on holidays. The reluctance to say any more was as much about ensuring there was no fall out back home in Ireland as it was about allowing Setanta to get on with practice without the additional pressure of expectations.
As for making it as a Rookie with Carlton, it was obvious for most from day one that with the determination and attitude he possesses Setanta was going to make the grade. After a few training sessions he had shown enough to suggest this Irish Hurling Star be worth the risk. His progress in the skills of the game, a game he had never played before was incredible. "When you play hurling at the level I did you need a lot of co-ordination, I think AFL is like this too and I think it helped me in my transition".
For Setanta, the Rookie Draft was a formality as Carlton had assured him he would be on the Carlton list for 2004, but it was still a great moment when it became official late last year. It was the first of his many goals he had set himself before leaving his home in Ireland on what is surely an incredible adventure. A visit back home for Christmas had a few Carlton people worried that he may get back home and not want to return to pursue his AFL dream. Those at the Club who knew Setanta best knew that this was never going to happen, he would be back. And not only did he come back but while he was home in Ireland he took some swimming lessons to ensure he was better prepared for the swimming sessions that are part of training and an important part of Carlton's recovery sessions after games.
Setanta soon became a folk legend at Carlton and even in the initial intra-club practice matches at Optus Oval he was a real favourite of the Carlton supporters. It seemed they loved to watch him play and while he may have made some obvious mistakes early on, this only added to the supporters interest and love of the "Big Irishman". Of course his development surprised everyone, including Denis Pagan who continues to remark that Setanta has no right to be doing what he is doing in such a short time. His early progress was rewarded when he made his Carlton debut in round two of the Wizard Cup, against Geelong at Optus Oval.
The media hype around his selection was fantastic and it seemed that all of Ireland wanted to speak with Setanta, however he remained very focused on what he wants to achieve. "I won't be happy until I get what I want, and that is to play seniors full time." While everyone at Carlton was thrilled with his debut, he remained his harshest critic and was not satisfied with his game. Denis Pagan had to remind him that there was only one thing between where he was at and where he wanted to be, and that was time. "And there is nothing anyone can do about that," Denis said to him. Setanta was reminded that he had not grown up on AFL and that it was a tough game, one that very few athletes could simply start playing in the manner that he had.
There was significant media attention following the game as well and as soon as this was completed, including a short session in the studio of Melbourne's top rating breakfast program, he decided to forgo any media work and concentrate on his development on the ground.
His goals and determination to achieve them means that he is very hard on himself, the one thing that he knew after his first game was that he had a lot of hard work ahead of him if he was going to make it to the top of the league. “AFL is very physical and you have to come to terms with just how physical it is, working in the gym has helped me build my strength and fitness a lot” Setanta said.
The result was many hours doing additional skills work, one on one sessions to not only improve his skills with the football but to learn more about the game and understand how to use his body, how to block opponents, when to make space etc. Setanta was doing all he could to make up for not previously being involved in the game.
"I know I have to keep working because I have to improve more than other players and if I am not doing the work then I am not improving myself and cannot expect to." Setanta said.
And what about the differences between Hurling and AFL. Hurling for those unfamiliar with the popular Irish sport began as an ancient Gaelic sport, developed back in the fifth century. It is similar to Gaelic football but with a smaller ball and a hockey like stick, ‘the hurling’. It is today known as one of the fastest and most skilful games in the world. In 1884 the G.A.A was formed which is similar to our AFL today.
Crowds of up to 70,000 people attend hurling games across Ireland to watch their teams. Similar to our Grand Final, hurling has a final too, The All-Irish Championships. Setanta made it all the way to the top of Hurling and was a high profile player for his team Cork. When asked if he misses the crowds and the team he responded with “I constantly keep in touch with my old team mates to let them know what I am doing and to see how they are all going. All I have ever wanted to do was play in front of a big crowd, I certainly did in Ireland and although the crowds are not as big here, it feels as though they are”.
The size of the crowds was of interest to many of the Irish journalists who contacted the Club regarding Setanta. While most know about the Grand Final and big matches with over 50,000 attending, they were keen to know about the 'normal crowd' for Carlton games. Of course the fact that Setanta was a Rookie and would be playing for the Northern Bullants in the VFL, they were keen to know more about this set up and of course what the crowds would be like in the VFL. For some there was a sense of disappointment that Setanta would not be wearing the Carlton Guernsey when he played.
Still very passionate about his homeland and his team Cork, Setanta believes that Cork with hopefully take out the Championships against Waterford. “I will be heading down to the Celtic Bar in Melbourne to watch the game on TV, I think that Cork has a really good chance and I wish them all the best,” he said. Setanta was first introduced to the game of Hurling when he was 12 or 13, after watching his elder brother play for Cork.
His passion for Ireland has certainly been on display on a couple of occasions at Optus Oval during the year. Firstly during pre-season training when champion Irish distance runner, Sonia O'Sullivan, visited the training session. Setanta was thrilled to not only see Sonia but to meet her for the very first time; "She is a champion, a legend in Ireland". And to think they hadn't met until they were both at the Carlton Football Club. The other occasion was when the Irish International Series Youth team trained at Optus Oval after a Carlton training session. Setanta stayed out to watch them train and then had a short talk with the boys, confirming he was barracking for them against Australia. He also told them he would love to play International Rules for Ireland against Australia later this year.
Setanta O'hAilpin has made great strides in such a short time and there is more to come on this fantastic story. Part two will be published on carltonfc.com.au next week.
7:43:18 PM Thu 24 June, 2004
Kate Telfer
carltonfc.com.au
Life is a little different for Setanta O’hAilpin after moving to Australia from Ireland to play AFL. As if moving to Australia was not a big enough step, O’hAilpin had never played Australian Football in his life.
Born in Sydney, to an Irish father and Fijian mother, O’hAilpin moved to Ireland as a youngster where he grew up to become a national hurling star with his County team, Cork. In 2003 Cork was runner up in the National Competition and Setanta won Ireland’s Young Hurler of the Year Award and was selected in the National All-Star team. He had Ireland at his fee, akin to Andrew Walker being selected in the All Australian team and Carlton playing in the Grand Final in 2005 (here's hoping). Setanta wanted the world at his feet. He realised that hurling was not a professional sport and decided to move to Australia to pursue his AFL career. "Although I grew up with hurling and I love it, AFL is a professional sport where hurling is not, I am grateful to have this opportunity to play a professional sport". Thankfully the Carlton Football Club had been talking with Setanta and it was Optus Oval that was his destination when he arrived in Australia.
That was back in late November last year when his ambition was to show enough to the coaching staff to be included as a Rookie for the 2004 season with the Carlton Football Club. Sure, it was a big gamble for him but he was determined to make it work. His trial with Carlton was almost kept as a secret for a number of weeks. Even when the Irish journalists commenced calling the Club about rumours that their Hurling star was training with Carlton, the response was that he had a 'bit of a run' while he was out here on holidays. The reluctance to say any more was as much about ensuring there was no fall out back home in Ireland as it was about allowing Setanta to get on with practice without the additional pressure of expectations.
As for making it as a Rookie with Carlton, it was obvious for most from day one that with the determination and attitude he possesses Setanta was going to make the grade. After a few training sessions he had shown enough to suggest this Irish Hurling Star be worth the risk. His progress in the skills of the game, a game he had never played before was incredible. "When you play hurling at the level I did you need a lot of co-ordination, I think AFL is like this too and I think it helped me in my transition".
For Setanta, the Rookie Draft was a formality as Carlton had assured him he would be on the Carlton list for 2004, but it was still a great moment when it became official late last year. It was the first of his many goals he had set himself before leaving his home in Ireland on what is surely an incredible adventure. A visit back home for Christmas had a few Carlton people worried that he may get back home and not want to return to pursue his AFL dream. Those at the Club who knew Setanta best knew that this was never going to happen, he would be back. And not only did he come back but while he was home in Ireland he took some swimming lessons to ensure he was better prepared for the swimming sessions that are part of training and an important part of Carlton's recovery sessions after games.
Setanta soon became a folk legend at Carlton and even in the initial intra-club practice matches at Optus Oval he was a real favourite of the Carlton supporters. It seemed they loved to watch him play and while he may have made some obvious mistakes early on, this only added to the supporters interest and love of the "Big Irishman". Of course his development surprised everyone, including Denis Pagan who continues to remark that Setanta has no right to be doing what he is doing in such a short time. His early progress was rewarded when he made his Carlton debut in round two of the Wizard Cup, against Geelong at Optus Oval.
The media hype around his selection was fantastic and it seemed that all of Ireland wanted to speak with Setanta, however he remained very focused on what he wants to achieve. "I won't be happy until I get what I want, and that is to play seniors full time." While everyone at Carlton was thrilled with his debut, he remained his harshest critic and was not satisfied with his game. Denis Pagan had to remind him that there was only one thing between where he was at and where he wanted to be, and that was time. "And there is nothing anyone can do about that," Denis said to him. Setanta was reminded that he had not grown up on AFL and that it was a tough game, one that very few athletes could simply start playing in the manner that he had.
There was significant media attention following the game as well and as soon as this was completed, including a short session in the studio of Melbourne's top rating breakfast program, he decided to forgo any media work and concentrate on his development on the ground.
His goals and determination to achieve them means that he is very hard on himself, the one thing that he knew after his first game was that he had a lot of hard work ahead of him if he was going to make it to the top of the league. “AFL is very physical and you have to come to terms with just how physical it is, working in the gym has helped me build my strength and fitness a lot” Setanta said.
The result was many hours doing additional skills work, one on one sessions to not only improve his skills with the football but to learn more about the game and understand how to use his body, how to block opponents, when to make space etc. Setanta was doing all he could to make up for not previously being involved in the game.
"I know I have to keep working because I have to improve more than other players and if I am not doing the work then I am not improving myself and cannot expect to." Setanta said.
And what about the differences between Hurling and AFL. Hurling for those unfamiliar with the popular Irish sport began as an ancient Gaelic sport, developed back in the fifth century. It is similar to Gaelic football but with a smaller ball and a hockey like stick, ‘the hurling’. It is today known as one of the fastest and most skilful games in the world. In 1884 the G.A.A was formed which is similar to our AFL today.
Crowds of up to 70,000 people attend hurling games across Ireland to watch their teams. Similar to our Grand Final, hurling has a final too, The All-Irish Championships. Setanta made it all the way to the top of Hurling and was a high profile player for his team Cork. When asked if he misses the crowds and the team he responded with “I constantly keep in touch with my old team mates to let them know what I am doing and to see how they are all going. All I have ever wanted to do was play in front of a big crowd, I certainly did in Ireland and although the crowds are not as big here, it feels as though they are”.
The size of the crowds was of interest to many of the Irish journalists who contacted the Club regarding Setanta. While most know about the Grand Final and big matches with over 50,000 attending, they were keen to know about the 'normal crowd' for Carlton games. Of course the fact that Setanta was a Rookie and would be playing for the Northern Bullants in the VFL, they were keen to know more about this set up and of course what the crowds would be like in the VFL. For some there was a sense of disappointment that Setanta would not be wearing the Carlton Guernsey when he played.
Still very passionate about his homeland and his team Cork, Setanta believes that Cork with hopefully take out the Championships against Waterford. “I will be heading down to the Celtic Bar in Melbourne to watch the game on TV, I think that Cork has a really good chance and I wish them all the best,” he said. Setanta was first introduced to the game of Hurling when he was 12 or 13, after watching his elder brother play for Cork.
His passion for Ireland has certainly been on display on a couple of occasions at Optus Oval during the year. Firstly during pre-season training when champion Irish distance runner, Sonia O'Sullivan, visited the training session. Setanta was thrilled to not only see Sonia but to meet her for the very first time; "She is a champion, a legend in Ireland". And to think they hadn't met until they were both at the Carlton Football Club. The other occasion was when the Irish International Series Youth team trained at Optus Oval after a Carlton training session. Setanta stayed out to watch them train and then had a short talk with the boys, confirming he was barracking for them against Australia. He also told them he would love to play International Rules for Ireland against Australia later this year.
Setanta O'hAilpin has made great strides in such a short time and there is more to come on this fantastic story. Part two will be published on carltonfc.com.au next week.
