Dyas leaving Collingwood to return home
Kevin Dyas is returning to Ireland
Tuesday, 29 September 2009 14:46
Former Armagh inter county footballer Kevin Dyas has parted company with his Aussie Rules club Collingwood and is returning to Ireland, the club have confirmed.
Dyas, who was a senior panelist with Armagh in 2007, cited a mixture of homesickness and injury as his reason for returning home.
The move comes less than a week after Down's Martin Clarke confirmed he is also leaving Collingwood and returning to Ireland.
Collingwood's chief of football operations Geoff Walsh said: 'Kevin tore his hamstring off the bone late last season, and had to go through a six-month recovery period.
'He got back pretty well to play most of this season with the VFL, but more so it was the difficulty with his restricted training program.
'Unfortunately, he missed a fair bit of footy through the hamstring injury, and that was probably the time where he was in his formative years in terms of development,' he added.
Despite losing both Dyas and Clarke within the space of a week, Walsh confirmed that Collingwood will continue looking towards Ireland for new talent.
'We'll continue to have a network operating for us in Ireland, and if they see players they consider to be prospects, we'll still be positive,' he said
Potentially great news for Armagh. Good to see that it is not polluting a Down thread, although Cúig huaire will probably complain about a new Armagh thread!
Dyas and Clarke probably have enough money put aside to enjoy university and play a bit of round ball, with long term careers at the end of it.
Potential in the key word armaghniac. None of these boys have ever kicked a ball at senior intercounty level so who know's how they will fare but anything that strengthens our options is good news.
TAC
I think you will find Dyas did play Senior Football - not massive lot but still did wing half back if i remember correctly
He may not even want to play and he comes in a sector of the field where we already have options. An new Ronan Clarke, a truly class forward that could win his own ball would be really useful.
Quote from: holylandsniper on September 29, 2009, 03:32:40 PM
TAC
I think you will find Dyas did play Senior Football - not massive lot but still did wing half back if i remember correctly
Funny I noticed it said he was a panelist in 2007. Don't think he played either championship match this year. Maybe a game or 2 in the league? I'm struggling to remember?
Had a look through old posts there - seems as though he did play a bit in the league in 2007 - at least against Louth. From what I remember of that one Stevie stole a win for us with a late goal. My post-match comments concentrate on complaining about the over-use of umbrellas.
QuotePotential in the key word armaghniac. None of these boys have ever kicked a ball at senior intercounty level so who know's how they will fare but anything that strengthens our options is good news.
True, both Clarke and Dyas have big profiles but have yet to prove anything at Senior level. Dyas played a few league games in 2007 as a sub (Louth and Down) and maybe one full game (Kildare) as well as a substitute appearance against Derry in the qualifiers.
dyas def played against derry that year in the qualifiers
Quote from: armaghniac on September 29, 2009, 03:33:23 PM
He may not even want to play and he comes in a sector of the field where we already have options. An new Ronan Clarke, a truly class forward that could win his own ball would be really useful.
But do you have options with his pace?
He could free up someone else to move into the half-forward line.
Provided his hamstring isn't a complete mess.
I'll await my apology from armagh's finest Mr GAA......
Tough going for the lad though. Not nice to see at all- but he'll be a huge addition for the county team - he was an excellent underage player anytime I saw him. I think the AFL bubble has burst at this stage as people truly see how hard it is to make it out there.
I'd disagree slightly Indiana.
How many have come home recently because they aren't good enough?
Kennelly was an established and highly regarded player.
Murphy would have made his debut for the Swans during the year if it wasn't for injury.
Shields seemed to be doing fine with Carltons VFL side.
Clarke would more than likely have been back in the Collingwood first team next season.
And on the other side of the coin, Quinn has already played a number of first team games for Essendon in his first year over there.
It's not so much a question of not making it as not really wanting to make it.
Quote from: Jinxy on September 29, 2009, 05:30:25 PM
I'd disagree slightly Indiana.
How many have come home recently because they aren't good enough?
Kennelly was an established and highly regarded player.
Murphy would have made his debut for the Swans during the year if it wasn't for injury.
Shields seemed to be doing fine with Carltons VFL side.
Clarke would more than likely have been back in the Collingwood first team next season.
And on the other side of the coin, Quinn has already played a number of first team games for Essendon in his first year over there.
It's not so much a question of not making it as not really wanting to make it.
Don't agree Jinxy. Shields wasn't good enough and neither were Murphy or Dyas or young O Hailpin. Hanley is unlikely to make it now either. Clarke did for a while and to a lesser extent so did Begley.
Aside from Jim Stynes- Kennelly is the only other who has carved a genuine career for himself. Micheal Quiiin and the older O Hailpin might as well. But there is no sign of Meredith or Mc Keever making debuts anytime soon either. It really isn't proving as fertile a breeding ground as the Aussies thought.
You're confusing "making it" with being a star player.
All you can ask is were they worth a place on an AFL first team?
Kennelly obviously was, Clarke was, O'hAilpin is, Quinn is and Murphy definitely would have been.
I followed Murphys progress with the reserve side and the fans were very excited by him.
He would have got a first-team game last year only he had groin trouble.
There aren't many lads his height in the AFL that can run like he can.
The swans fans in the know were very disappointed he was leaving.
Shields maybe wouldn't have made it but the fact is the only person to come home recently after being delisted is Aisake O'hAilpin.
The rest have made their own minds up to jack it in.
The Brisbane fans have plenty of time for Hanley too.
Ability to play the game does not seem to be the problem with him either, again he has missed a lot of time through injury.
Quote from: INDIANA on September 29, 2009, 05:09:18 PM
I'll await my apology from armagh's finest Mr GAA......
According to those that actually know him and have spoken to him recently, he only made a firm decision to return in the last week or two. So you can pretend that you were in the know all you like, but the reality is that your earlier musing were nothing but speculation.
mckeever may have trouble making a first team debut any time soon when he hasnt actually left for australia yet....
Quote from: Jinxy on September 29, 2009, 07:09:26 PM
You're confusing "making it" with being a star player.
All you can ask is were they worth a place on an AFL first team?
Kennelly obviously was, Clarke was, O'hAilpin is, Quinn is and Murphy definitely would have been.
I followed Murphys progress with the reserve side and the fans were very excited by him.
He would have got a first-team game last year only he had groin trouble.
There aren't many lads his height in the AFL that can run like he can.
The swans fans in the know were very disappointed he was leaving.
Shields maybe wouldn't have made it but the fact is the only person to come home recently after being delisted is Aisake O'hAilpin.
The rest have made their own minds up to jack it in.
The Brisbane fans have plenty of time for Hanley too.
Ability to play the game does not seem to be the problem with him either, again he has missed a lot of time through injury.
In fairness Jinxy does barely one season in AFL constitute making it?
I think Clarke would have had he stuck at it at another club but he prefers Gaelic Football. But in my view he did make it because Collingwood are a top club.
Begley probably has played 20 games max- again he's be better off coming home. For me 3 years as a first team player = making it for me. O Hailpin is on the verge of making it as well.
You might have a point on Murphy- I heard about his physiological scores in the DCU testing and they were off the map for even AFL players.
Remains to be seen on Quinn but he looks likely to make it to me. I don't think the rest of hanley, Meredith etc will to be honest.
The reality is the Aussie kids are better conditioned at a younger age to take the massive physical impact the game involves. A lot of our lads just aren't conditioned for the full time training at that age.
I heard a month ago he was joining Clarke at the Ranch - any confirmation yet?
Quote from: INDIANA on September 29, 2009, 10:26:21 PM
In fairness Jinxy does barely one season in AFL constitute making it?
I think Clarke would have had he stuck at it at another club but he prefers Gaelic Football. But in my view he did make it because Collingwood are a top club.
Begley probably has played 20 games max- again he's be better off coming home. For me 3 years as a first team player = making it for me. O Hailpin is on the verge of making it as well.
You might have a point on Murphy- I heard about his physiological scores in the DCU testing and they were off the map for even AFL players.
Remains to be seen on Quinn but he looks likely to make it to me. I don't think the rest of hanley, Meredith etc will to be honest.
The reality is the Aussie kids are better conditioned at a younger age to take the massive physical impact the game involves. A lot of our lads just aren't conditioned for the full time training at that age.
The average AFL career for all drafted players is around 3 years. A long career these days is around 200 games which is about ten seasons. The odd freak plays 350 plus but it is rare.
There are a number of AFL players who are cruelled by injury - it isn't exclusive to Irish recruits.The kids who are drafted to the AFL have generally come from feeder systems which have intensive training (VFL, WAFL, SANFL, TAC under 18's) so the step up to AFL level fitness, while still significant, is largely anticipated.
Quinn needs a lot of work to be as good as Clarke - his basics are still poor.
Agree with Heave Ho. Freo have been badly hit these past two years with major injuries to key players at significant times.
I still feel the Collingwood exodus is due to a change in the management.
Quote from: INDIANA on September 29, 2009, 10:26:21 PM
Quote from: Jinxy on September 29, 2009, 07:09:26 PM
You're confusing "making it" with being a star player.
All you can ask is were they worth a place on an AFL first team?
Kennelly obviously was, Clarke was, O'hAilpin is, Quinn is and Murphy definitely would have been.
I followed Murphys progress with the reserve side and the fans were very excited by him.
He would have got a first-team game last year only he had groin trouble.
There aren't many lads his height in the AFL that can run like he can.
The swans fans in the know were very disappointed he was leaving.
Shields maybe wouldn't have made it but the fact is the only person to come home recently after being delisted is Aisake O'hAilpin.
The rest have made their own minds up to jack it in.
The Brisbane fans have plenty of time for Hanley too.
Ability to play the game does not seem to be the problem with him either, again he has missed a lot of time through injury.
In fairness Jinxy does barely one season in AFL constitute making it?
I think Clarke would have had he stuck at it at another club but he prefers Gaelic Football. But in my view he did make it because Collingwood are a top club.
Begley probably has played 20 games max- again he's be better off coming home. For me 3 years as a first team player = making it for me. O Hailpin is on the verge of making it as well.
You might have a point on Murphy- I heard about his physiological scores in the DCU testing and they were off the map for even AFL players.
Remains to be seen on Quinn but he looks likely to make it to me. I don't think the rest of hanley, Meredith etc will to be honest.
The reality is the Aussie kids are better conditioned at a younger age to take the massive physical impact the game involves. A lot of our lads just aren't conditioned for the full time training at that age.
[/b]
This does seem to be the essential and significant difference ok.
Lads don't forget Seán Wight...... had a very good career in the AFL.
Having lived in Melbourne for a while I can vouch how hard they train even at the lower levels. Lived for a while facing on to an oval and the team there (an ex pupils team) trained for over 2 hours 2/3 times a week. Standard of games was muck though.
The best AFL players are from country Victoria/South Australia and the fall off from the feeder academies is imo 90%. Only 10% make it in the AFL with say 1% gaining superstar status such as for example Lynch, Hird, Ablett etc.
Imo the fall off of Irish lads is the norm.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2009/0930/walsh_moran.html
Quote
Kerry duo Tommy Walsh and David Moran are poised to reverse the recent trend and commit their futures to Australian Rules side St Kilda.
A report in today's Irish Daily Star suggests the Kerry stars will replenish the declining numbers of Irish in the AFL by signing for the Melbourne outfit in the coming weeks.
The Kerins O'Rahilly's pair are believed to be set to follow in the footsteps of Kingdom team-mate Tadhg Kennelly and boost Irish numbers Down Under following the recent departures of Martin Clarke, Kevin Dyas and Brendan Murphy.
Agent Ricky Nixon revealed this week that 'three or four' contracts were on the table for Irish-based footballers and he is expected in Ireland to tie up those contracts.
International rookies can expect to make in the region of €25,000 a year and most newcomers are tied to two-year contracts.
If true, it's a big setback to Kerry, and a big disappointment to GAA supporters, who obviously would like to see the best talent remain playing our games. Nixon was saying 22 year olds were much too old, so it's a bit strange that Tommy Walsh could be heading out at this stage.
Quote from: Canalman on September 30, 2009, 10:22:47 AM
The best AFL players are from country Victoria/South Australia and the fall off from the feeder academies is imo 90%. Only 10% make it in the AFL with say 1% gaining superstar status such as for example Lynch, Hird, Ablett etc.
Imo the fall off of Irish lads is the norm.
Where did you get those figures from? Going on percentage of population, Vic and NSW have the biggest catchment and Tas and the NT have the smallest. There are a helluva lot of West Australian boys playing in the top ranks too, don't forget. And if mini-me keeps going the way he is, there could be another one in 10 years.
Quote from: Aerlik on October 01, 2009, 04:50:16 AM
And if mini-me keeps going the way he is, there could be another one in 10 years.
I'll look forward to meeting you when he debuts in the red & white ;)
Quote from: stephenite on October 01, 2009, 05:41:05 AM
Quote from: Aerlik on October 01, 2009, 04:50:16 AM
And if mini-me keeps going the way he is, there could be another one in 10 years.
I'll look forward to meeting you when he debuts in the red & white ;)
No - it will be in the purple if his old man gets a say. Just as long it isn't in the Blue and Gold.
Quote from: Aerlik on October 01, 2009, 04:50:16 AM
Quote from: Canalman on September 30, 2009, 10:22:47 AM
The best AFL players are from country Victoria/South Australia and the fall off from the feeder academies is imo 90%. Only 10% make it in the AFL with say 1% gaining superstar status such as for example Lynch, Hird, Ablett etc.
Imo the fall off of Irish lads is the norm.
Where did you get those figures from? Going on percentage of population, Vic and NSW have the biggest catchment and Tas and the NT have the smallest. There are a helluva lot of West Australian boys playing in the top ranks too, don't forget. And if mini-me keeps going the way he is, there could be another one in 10 years.
Aerlik - it would be Vic, followed by SA and WA (the traditional footy states). There are some good types coming out of NSW and Queensland but as you know they refer league and union. NT produce some good indigenous lads and Tassie the odd good player.