Irish AFL players

keane2097 wrote: »

I've done a little update of how some of the Irish players have been getting on over the last couple of weeks here if anybody is interested:

http://www.livegaelic.com/irish-experiment/the-irish-experiment-15082012/

Pretty well-informed and thorough piece, good stuff.

Paul Cribbin cut by Collingwood

manlad wrote: »

Doubt that. He's been one of Brisbane best players this year

He's contracted with Brisbane until at least 2013, possibly even longer than that (they didn't release the duration of the contract he signed last year) and my guess is that with the amount of salary cap space they have, particularly when they ship out a couple of senior players this year, they will throw substantial wads of cash at him to keep him down under. He'll be top 5 in the Lions' best and fairest again this year without doubt.

I doubt we'll see him in the green and red until the tail end of his career, which is a pity for Mayo as he would be good enough to get them over the line to an All Ireland IMO.

Xavi6 wrote: »

Paul Cribbin cut by Collingwood

I'm slightly surprised at this to be honest, he has been much improved in the reserves this year by all accounts and has been in the best players regularly over the last few weeks. Just lacks that little bit to make it as an AFL player unfortunately but his return will do a hell of a lot more for Kildare football than Seanie Johnson, he's an extremely natural talent.

This was his second season

Did an interview with Tommy for LiveGaelic if anyone's interested.

Xavi6 wrote: »

Ciaran Kilkenny has officially signed for Hawthorn today, good club to be at.

That didn't last long, heading home already.

jackbhoy wrote: »

Jeez, I understand he's a young guy and it's tough moving to the other side of the world but surely he could have stayed on bit longer and given it a right go. If nothing else he would have learned a huge amount about professional sports training and diet, strength and conditioning etc that he could take back to GAA.

I thought the same but the heads in the GAA forum think he gave it long enough if he didn't like it.

I disagree, he should have at least waited until he played a few competitive VFL games and got a proper feel for the whole thing. Especially when he said Aussie Rules was an ambition of his since 14.

There may have been a bit of homesickness about it, but i would have assumed it was morre to do with the heat and more physicality. No doubt he is a great footballer, but I would have thought more of the guy if he just came out and said it was very hard to adapt to the game.

So there will be 7 Irish Players on the Lists for 2013:

Pearce Hanley [22 games; RD AV: 82.55; DT POS: 64]
Niall McKeever [9 games; RD AV: 43.33; DT POS: 472]
Zach Tuohy [19 games; RD AV: 46.37; DT POS: 329]
Martin Clarke [17 games; RD AV: 62.82; DT POS: 254]
Caolan Mooney (Rookie List) [4 games; RD AV: 16.00; DT POS: 615]
Setanta O'hAilpin [1 games; RD AV: 34.00; DT POS: 644]
Tommy Walsh [3 games; RD AV: 37.67; DT POS: 608]

I have put they're DT stats for 2012 as well because I think it should be noted how well Pearce Hanley did last year. 64 overall and 6th best Defender!

A Tyrone boy from Coalisland, think he moved over very young though. I would guess he's related in some way to the Corrs who played with Tyrone in the 80s and 90s.

Article - http://sportsnewsireland.com/gaa/gaa-to-australian-rules-football-its-economics-not-poaching-2013-04-26/

I'm sorry but that article is pretty garbage for a couple of reasons:

1) There's seven Irish players in the AFL at present. How hard is it to get the names right - Its Niall, not Brian McKeever.

2) Setanta has played over 80 games of AFL footy, way above the average for players entering the league, particularly from a non-footy background. From all accounts he is massively popular within the playing group up in GWS and has been taking on a developmental role with their young players alongside his playing duties. He did his ACL last year, hence all the time on the physio table. And he is also an AFL multicultural ambassador. That's a fine career in anyone's book (he would also be the second best tall forward on Carlton's list still IMO, after a proper sicknote Waite)

3) The AFL clubs will still come after the top level of talent. The cost isn't that much higher than the regular Australian draftee and the top teams can easily absorb that. We may not see the same numbers but the will always be a club willing to take a chance on a Kilkenny type player. From what I hear, Ciaran Byrne of Louth will be heading to Carlton next year and a number of clubs are still trying to lure Jack McCaffrey over.

4) The economic issue is a red herring and has nothing to do with the AFL really. Average club players are moving because they have no jobs and whether they end up playing aussie rules over here is irrelevant. The odds of one of the Irish Warriors developing enough to even make it to VFL level are prtty miniscule, let alone the big leagues.

5) Caolan Mooney is indeed still on the Collingwood rookie list but played 4 games as a first year player in a top 4 team. An achievement which is massive in its own right but overlooked completely to suit the negative tone of the article.

I hate to be harsh like this because I love to see the AFL covered in mainstream Irish media but when its misinformed stuff it just leads to continued ignorant opinions being spouted by the average Joe on the street. Pearce Hanley is one of Ireland's premier sportspeople now but his achievements will be continually overlooked if the same mistrusting attitude remains prevelant among the Irish media and by extension the Irish public.

Caolan Mooney has been upgraded from the rookie list and will play against Freo for the Pies on Saturday. Delighted

He was electric in the VFL last week and kicked 5 goals, made 5 tackles and took a couple of cracking marks. Highlights below.