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AFL recruitment drive in Ireland

  • 02-07-2008 4:05am
    #1
    One Cold Hand
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,391 ✭✭✭


    DesF started a tread about this in the AFL forum. Thought I'd start a thread here to see what the reaction of GAA folk, as I can't imagine too many people in the GAA being too happy about it.

    Basically an Australian AFL agent, Ricky Nixon, is coming to Ireland to hold a recruitment camp. This will allow AFL clubs to better assess young Irish players with a view to approaching them and bringing them over to Australia.

    Tadhg Kennelly and Jim Stynes have both spoken out against Nixon, warning Irish players not to deal with him. Links are in DesF's thread.

    What say ye?


Comments

  • #2
    Zzippy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,166 ✭✭✭✭Zzippy


    Both Kennelly and Stynes are associated with clubs not represented by Nixon, so they have a vested interested in players not dealing with him. I wouldn't pay too much heed to them. On the other hand, I wouldn't be too happy about any AFL agents coming over here and tempting young players to go to Oz - its not exactly Premier League salaries they'll be on, reckon they'd be better off getting their education finished here first


  • #3
    beartooth
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 103 ✭✭beartooth


    i agree that the players should first get there education sorted b4 they decide to go playing, but that said most young players would jump at the chance to go and play professionally for a few years, its a great opertunity for them


  • #4
    kmurphy06
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭kmurphy06


    has any1 herd wat players were asked for the trials


  • #5
    premierstone
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,706 ✭✭✭premierstone


    kmurphy06 wrote: »
    has any1 herd wat players were asked for the trials

    If your to believe Nixon, its more or less been the opposite with players ringing him looking for a trial


  • #6
    kmart6
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,174 ✭✭✭✭kmart6


    beartooth wrote: »
    i agree that the players should first get there education sorted b4 they decide to go playing, but that said most young players would jump at the chance to go and play professionally for a few years, its a great opertunity for them
    By the time they'd complete college clubs wouldn't wanna take them cause they's have lost 4 years that could have been used for development!
    kmurphy06 wrote:
    has any1 herd wat players were asked for the trials
    premierstone wrote:
    If your to believe Nixon, its more or less been the opposite with players ringing him looking for a trial

    Well from what I know there's a trial been held in U.L. in a few weeks for under 20 lads, think it's around 16!


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  • #7
    MrsJohnMurphy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 67 ✭✭MrsJohnMurphy


    I think the GAA a making fools of themselves over this issue, playing GAA is a hobby for people. The AFL can offer people a chance to become a professional sportsperson, something the GAA cannot offer.

    If e.g. an Aussie health board wanted to recruit nurses and wanted to book a suite in Croker for the day for an info fair there would be no problem. But the AFL wouldnt be allowed to do this!

    Just because you play GAA as a hobby, what should that give anyone the right to interfere or comment on your career decisions / options?

    mjm


  • #8
    jackbhoy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,280 ✭✭✭jackbhoy


    I think the threat this poses to GAA is negligible.

    As Zzippy rightly points out the money offered to Rookie players is very poor (about 10k less than average industrial wage here) so most lads are not gonna be swayed by money only. You'd also have to assume that parents aren't gonna allow 15/16 year olds give up school to go to other side of world to make same money they'd get working in a Mcjob here.

    The thing that might temp them is the Aussie lifestyle, but this is the case for tens of thousands of young people that head there every year so can't really blame them/AFL for that.

    IMO there are issues closer to home that pose much greater threat to GAA and loss of young talent than the AFL. The growth of soccer and particularly rugby where players can play professionally in Ireland is much more likely to take away from GAA talent pool. It's also staggering how many young guys give up the game after minor/u21. With club and county commitments players can play/train for 11/12 months a year now, this is huge commitment and sacrifice to make for very little reward, particularly in smaller counties (like my own) where they could play and train your heart out 10-15 years without ever getting close to a medal for it, its a sacrifice less and less lads want to make.


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