AFL Invasion

[Never beat the deeler]

Rachel Kearns, from Crossmolina in Mayo is nominated for mark of the year for this grab:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQZsq17XWU

Vote here if you can - you go into a draw for $5,000
https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/mark-of-the-year/vote

[twohands!!!]

Another one confirmed gone.

Eamonn Armstrong from Meath to St Kilda

https://www.saints.com.au/news/1695670/gaelic-phenomenon-armstrong-signs-with-saints

[Blowitupref]

Another one confirmed gone.

Eamonn Armstrong from Meath to St Kilda

https://www.saints.com.au/news/1695670/gaelic-phenomenon-armstrong-signs-with-saints

Man of the match in the Leinster U20 final would have been a big addition to Meath seniors had he stayed. Best of luck to him.

[Blowitupref]

Kerry chairman Patrick O'Sullivan has urged Croke Park to take action against AFL poaching after revealing that up to nine Kerry talents were contacted by Australian clubs in recent years.

Cillian Burke, who impressed off the bench on the evening of Kerry's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Armagh, was the latest Kingdom talent to sign for an AFL club when he put pen to paper with Geelong in October.
Burke's former Kerry U20 teammate Rob Monahan preceded him in making the move to Australia when signing for Carlton Blues late in the summer of 2023.

At Tuesday evening's Kerry convention in the Rose Hotel, county board chairman Patrick O'Sullivan said seven other emerging footballers from Kerry had been tapped up by AFL recruiters.

He called on the GAA to form a committee to help retain players identified and approached by Australian clubs, and for a mechanism to be put in place whereby an AFL club signing a Gaelic footballer must contribute to the units that developed him.

"Representatives of the AFL are constantly floating around Kerry minor and U20 teams over the last number of years. They come selling a professional sport to our younger players. It is hard for young players not to look at a professional career in sport," O'Sullivan began.

"The Association has to take some action regarding the AFL's constant scrutiny of our younger stars in Ireland. Procedure will have to be put in place where players cannot be taken without contributing to the club and counties who give so much to the development of these players.

"If our younger players keep emigrating to Australia, the outlook for Kerry senior teams going forward will not be a good one. Kerry players are at the heart and soul of our county, and we, as an Association, have to figure out a method to retain and keep our players at home in Ireland.

"We in Kerry aren't the only county suffering from this issue. There are players from other counties choosing to emigrate as well. We will be calling on the GAA to form a committee to look into this matter."   

[Rossfan]

Can do fk all about it, they're amateurs.

[TabClear]

Can do fk all about it, they're amateurs.

He has some nerve. Who the fcuk does he think he is, trying to hinder  young athletes to have the opportunity of a professional sporting career. Yes it might weaken an individual team slightly for a couple of years but every county is in the same boat. They are amateur players and should be given every opportunity to make the best life for themselves and if that involves moving to another country/sport then the GAA as an organisation should be proud of them, not seek to put obstacles in their way.

[gallsman]

Posturing, nothing more. Even if the GAA were to try and negotiate something with the AFL on a voluntary basis, I'm not sure it's a good look.

[JimStynes]

Are they going to give out to the Premiership teams in England too?

[Brendan]

Derry and Tyrone can put things in place to keep players here so why can't Kerry?

[Rossfan]

Such as?

[Armagh18]

Such as?

£££

[Wildweasel74]

Derry lost players, to trying out Afl and continue to do so.

[NotedObserver]

Any word of Derry or Tyrone players getting a contract?

[Blowitupref]

Derry lost players, to trying out Afl and continue to do so.

Callum Brown for one was a big loss. Really stood out at underage level for Derry.

[onefineday]

Derry lost players, to trying out Afl and continue to do so.

Callum Brown for one was a big loss. Really stood out at underage level for Derry.

Don't think that's accurate, was he not a sub on that team who Clifford beat in 2017, definitely came on a lot the next year and impressed for the u20's, but not the standout of those panels?
That's not to say he wouldn't be a massive game changer for Derry now!