I see Brendan Murphy has signed with the Sydney Swans

[Bogball XV]

Couldn't agree with you more there Hardy - I've been satying the exact same thing - we have got to react to it - it's has happened before and will happen again and we need to put something in place to at least get some compensation for somebody, especially the club.

How??  If an aussie club decided to make a donation to the gaa for each player, that's really about as far as you can hope for.
Anyway, is the issue not that the lad is being lost to the game, what's the benefit in financial compensation?  Are you suggesting that the newly rich club do a Wicklow/Kildare on it and start poaching rival clubs players??

[The Forfeit Point]

was this lad playing against longford this year? the carlow midfield were non-existant in that game, im very surprised at this

[FL/MAYO]

was this lad playing against longford this year? the carlow midfield were non-existant in that game, im very surprised at this

Be quiet there Forfeit Point or they will be up recruiting your up and coming promising young players also.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

The smile will be wiped of the aussies faces when Tyrone hit back with the signing of Barry Hall for the beginning of the 2008 nfl.

[orangeman]

I heard that Barry Hall is going to play midfield with Peter the Great - that'll be some team !.

[HeaveHo]

When AFL clubs draft a player the club (or the AFL on behalf of the club) must pay the club from which the player was drafted a fee - it might be $10k AUD. When the kid plays his first senior game the player's original club gets paid another instalment and again after 20 and 50 games (something like that). I was under the impression the total fee payable might be in the range of $25-$50k AUD if the kid plays 100 games. The player's junior club generally get nothing as kids feed into the "elite senior clubs" in each state of Australia which may be 8-10 clubs per state. The state clubs host their own competitions which is a standard below AFL but in the case of South Australia and Western Australian not all that far below. The AFL could (but won't) institute a similiar policy for player's rookie listed out of Ireland - the GAA clubs might be tempted to offer their best and brightest for some coin. From the AFL viewpoint why pay when you don't have too - the AFL might be doing the kid a massive favour and if they reach the pinnacle of the AFL have the potential to earn up to $800,000 AUD which is paid to some (not many) AFL players. The roles were reversed I am sure the outcomes would be identical.

The GAA had one bargaining chip with the AFL - the International Rules. The AFL is competing with football (soccer in these here parts), rugby union and rugby league for the best athletes in Australia. The advantage these codes have over AFL is that they have international programs of varying degrees. The AFL liked to trot out the International Rules to youngsters as a means of representing their country (which is a big deal for most Aussies). Of course for reasons on which the Aussie and Irish will never agree the program has ended. Any restraint the AFL might have had over it's clubs have now been removed and they are being encouraged to scout Ireland and other places for rookies by bringing in the International rookie rules which permit two international players to be rookie listed and exempted from the salary cap.

The only other way the GAA could prevent their players from joining the AFL is by way of threatening to ban the player in question from playing in a GAA sanctioned competition. I suspect this wouldn't breach any restraint of trade laws as playing in the GAA is amateur and methinks could not be deemed a trade. Unless the GAA do this AFL clubs will continue to poach the best young athletes - given the success of Kennelly and Clarke (and to a lesser extent O'Halpin and Begley) AFL clubs would be criminal not to have a look around Ireland and see what talent was available.
       

[HeaveHo]

Orangeman - big Barry would be a handy get for any team. He is a boxer of some note and regularly gets offers from boxing promoters who think he would have some prospects in the heavyweight divisions. At 105kg (231 pounds) and 1.94 cms (I think 6"4' in the old money) he probably has the physical tools but who knows if he is good enough to make an impression. I think boxing would get the nod ahead of GAA if Barry contemplates a career change. Nice thought all the same.

[hitzelsperger]

if big bazza took a notion and started swingin i would be stayin well outa the road, would be like a massacre!

[darbyo]

I'm not as upset about this poaching as some others around but I'm not sure why. I guess it could be that we can't expect to have our cake and eat it too. It's unfortunate, but if we remain an amateur organisation then professional sports are always going to cast their eyes in our direction for available talent. English rugby league clubs also have scouting programs in this counrty looking for GAA players who might make switch to rugby league successfully. This follows that Wicklow lad (can't think of his name) who was a GAA player until college and went on to represent GB in rugby league. Those who talk of preventing lads going are basically saying that as a GAA player not only will we not pay you but we'll prevent any other sporting organisation doing so also. I don't think the GAA can go pro for many reasons but we'll have to accept that other codes are pro and some of the best of our lads will always be taken by them........c'est la vie.

[The Forfeit Point]

was this lad playing against longford this year? the carlow midfield were non-existant in that game, im very surprised at this

Be quiet there Forfeit Point or they will be up recruiting your up and coming promising young players also.

there is absolutely no fear of that 

[Maximus Marillius]

Lads this discussion is a no boner...as one would say....The Gaa dont want to pay in any shape or form its players, therefore it has not an inch never mind a leg to stand on in this issue. Going to professional football in Aussie land is no different to being a bricky, joiner or teacher...it is career choice that you will get paid for if you are good enough. The ONLY way the Gaa can stop it is to in some way have contracts with players that financially rewards them...and that is not about to happen. END of!

[ykickamoocow]

I thought you all would be interested in seeing this article


New Swan hailed as Irish Judd

A TEENAGE apprentice electrician from the tiny village of Rathvilly in County Carlow is Ireland's answer to AFL superstar Chris Judd, according to fellow countryman Tadhg Kennelly.

It's a huge rap for Brendan Murphy, who is rated the most talented young Gaelic footballer in Ireland, but Kennelly believes the lanky 18-year-old is going to be the real deal once he makes the transition to AFL.

"He (Murphy) is big, big news," Kennelly said.

"He wouldn't be quite the hype of Chris Judd at 18 years old but not far, far off.

"There was a lot of disappointment when he left (Ireland)."

Murphy, a 195cm tall, super athletic midfielder for Carlow stood out in this year's Gaelic football finals because of his phenomenal skills.

"They have a (player) rating system similar to here and you play for your county and (Carlow) lost the quarter-final but he was just the man, he was running the show," Kennelly said.

"You have to be mobile to play Gaelic football but there's very, very few at 6-5 (195cm) playing and able to move . . . he'd be as quick as anyone his height."

The AFL yesterday released details of unlisted players who have been given permission to train with clubs in the lead-up to the national, pre-season and rookie drafts.

"You hope that he can make centre half-forward or centre half-back, whichever one he's comfortable with," he said.

Another two Irish players, Michael Shields (Carlton) and Kevin Dyas (Collingwood) will also train with clubs.

Murphy - escorted by Kennelly - arrived in Sydney on Wednesday morning from Rathvilly, which has a population of 700 and is about 84km from Dublin, to begin his crash course on Australian rules football.

But he does at least know who Judd is.

"I've heard of Chris Judd, yeah Tadhg's talked about him and we actually went to see him play (against St Kilda). He's a good player," Murphy said, referring to his secret visit to Australia in late August.

But he's not so sure about the Irish Judd comparison, quickly adding: "Don't listen to Tadhg."

The Swans' dashing Irish defender played a pivotal role in helping Sydney swipe Murphy from right under the nose of the unsuspecting Brisbane Lions back in August.

Murphy had all but signed on the dotted line to trial with the Lions before a phone call from Kennelly talking up the Swans changed everything.

"When I talked to Tadhg he convinced me that Sydney was the right place to come," Murphy said.

Murphy admits he's taking a risk after agreeing to a two-year deal at Sydney, but says it's 10 times better than being an apprentice electrician.

"I've always liked (AFL) and the chance to be a professional and get paid doing something you love doing it's a dream really to get this chance," he said.

Kennelly warned not to expect Murphy to be the same instant success story of another Gaelic convert, Martin Clarke, at Collingwood.

"I think it's going to be a lot, lot harder for Brendan because a key position is a lot harder to play obviously and that's why they are more valuable to the club," Kennelly said.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22728163-23211,00.html

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Im a Swans supporter and im getting really excited about this kid.

[robertemmet]

Some of the most talented minors players of recent years heading to Oz joining Begley, Clarke, Kennelly.

Laois - Zac Tuohy, Brendan Quigley
Cork - Ciaran Sheehan, Michael Shields
Armagh - Kevin Dyas
Carlow - Brendan Murphy

Some loss to the GAA, but you can hardly blame them can you.  A chance to go for a few years to see the world and play as a professional.

[tyssam5]

Looks like Tadhg is turning into another Jim Stynes? (in the becoming a Aussie sense that is)

[full back]

I see Tadhg doesnt mind talking someone up, cute Kerry hoor that he is

Max is correct in that the GAA have no business in this. Granted the players take part in GAA, but it is after all only a hobby & the GAA have no contractual agreement with any player. As the young lad said its 10 times better taking a risk in Oz than starting his apprenticeship as a spark