AFL Invasion

[stephenite]

It is AZ, and thus the clubs over looking for the next big thing to come out of Ireland, our players can adapt far quicker to the style of AFL that is now being played. Are we killing ourselves by not going professional is a question I have been asking myself?

If Hanley, Dyas, Murphy and a few others make it as regular first team senior players in the next 2-3 years we will have a situation where by young GAA players are aiming/dreaming to get an AFL contract as opposed to a County jersey, and have a very, very real chance of making it.

I don't think it's necessary to over react just yet but if the hemorrhaging of our best talent continues something will have to be done, and the only realistic scenario to stop the GAA becoming a feeder sport for the AFL is to ultimately match what they're being offered - full time contracts.

[Bensars]

If Hanley, Dyas, Murphy and a few others make it as regular first team senior players in the next 2-3 years we will have a situation where by young GAA players are aiming/dreaming to get an AFL contract as opposed to a County jersey, and have a very, very real chance of making it.

Sensationalist in the extreme.

I don't think it's necessary to over react just yet but if the hemorrhaging of our best talent continues something will have to be done, and the only realistic scenario to stop the GAA becoming a feeder sport for the AFL is to ultimately match what they're being offered - full time contracts.

In fairness now, lets not get carried away. Is there even 10 young lads in the last 3 years ?

[zoyler]

Agree absolutely with Bensars - no need to panic and no need to go proffisional tomorrow either.  It would not work, would destroy the association if we tried and we would be throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Good to see Tadgh Kennelly getting envolved and prepared to talk to young lads and explain to them the cons as well as the pros.  He seems to have totally got up this guy Nixons nose which  is no harm

[INDIANA]

there are plenty of other aussie agents that haven't been mentioned here. Nixon isn't the only one. this is the first concerted effort by the aussies previously they just dabbled, too early to say yet but the aussies are the world leader in terms of sports, ie they are good at everything in terms of sports orgnaisation. i wouldn't lay any odds against them in their effort in making it work for them.

[Hardy]

Ah sure isn't it great for the young lads. Sure acting as a free feeder nursery for a professional sports business in Australia is not too far from the community development work which is our reason for existence ... really. Sure grooming the top GAA stars of the future only to hand them over to Aussie Rules is no diffreent at all to young lads who were never committed anyway giving up GAA for drink, soccer, rugby, yadda, yadda. Sure what can we do anyway.

[AZOffaly]

Hardy, is this you?

[Hardy]

Could be. Except for the smile.

[thejuice]

I wonder have they ever bothered looking here......... http://www.arfli.com/

[TBT]

Think there is a major over reaction here. Unless this year is something different there is only ever a handful of players this effects. There is talk of 20-25 young players going out, IMO this wont happen.

What everyone seems to be forgetting, is that there is a natural wastage anyway, always has been.

How many players has Soccer,Rugby etc "poached". Then there is the element that go onto further education and may stop playing gaelic games. Dont forget the Drink and the female species either.


In regards of providing coaching jobs. Thats a load of balls IMHO. Firstly it creates an elite element. ( I presume these jobs will only be offered to those about to be poached ).  It smacks of desperation. It also doesnt take account of people that want to persue different avenues in the career paths. Childminding and teaching/ coaching  doesnt rock everyones world !

Half of those that go will return with a  month or two anyway, homesick and missing mammys cooking. Probably half of the remainder will be scratched for not meeting the required level.

However they are amatuer players and should be afforded the oppurtunity to explore it, if they so desire !

the comparison with losing players to soccer /rugby is laughable. GAA players are not headhunted by soccer clubs because of their gaelic football ability.Given that each Aussie Rules side has 2 avalable places for overseas players per yr, and this may be increased according to Nixon,  figures of 20 per season going over are realistic giving the outlay by Nixon/Sholly ect. Nixon reckons they'll be a 50% success rate. Gaelic football losing the cream of its underage talent every yr cannot be anything but disasterous. Gaelic football without the likes of Cavanagh,Dara Shea,Ciaran Whelan,Graham Canty - basically those players who blend athleticism adn football ability- will be a far poorer place. Thats the future if this Aussie Rules tie in takes place.

[Rossfan]

The players are all amateurs and can go where they like to try their hands at whatever sport they like and there is SFA the GAA can do about it.

[DrinkingHarp]

What is the average pay of an Aussie player per year and what is the high end and low end of the pay?

[GaillimhIarthair]

What is the average pay of an Aussie player per year and what is the high end and low end of the pay?

Info posted previously would suggest the following -

Average salary is now $200,000 AUD (140,000 Euros).

Kennelly would be on $500,000 AUD plus.

Highest paid would be close to $1,000,000 (Brown or Judd). They might earn the same again in endorsements plus they get cut into all the good deals by business people.

Rookies earn approx $80,000 and this is what drop th eaverage salary to $200k

[INDIANA]

Laois star Meredith snared by AFL Lions

By Brendan O'Brien
LAOIS footballer Conor Meredith has become the latest Irish youngster to try his hand at the AFL after arriving in Brisbane on Tuesday to begin a two-week trial with the Lions at the famous Gabba grounds.


The AFL club were Grand Final champions between 2001 and 2003, and have been one of the most enthusiastic talent spotters in Ireland. Another Laoisman, Colm Begley, is already an established star while Mayo's Pierce Hanley is on the rookie roster.

Meredith flew in to the Gold Coast city on Tuesday evening and the club wasted little time in commencing his Aussie Rules education, including the 18-year-old in a light training session with the rest of the squad the following morning.




Brisbane's interest in the Laois forward was signalled as long ago as last August, just weeks after the O'Dempseys player scored a hat-trick of goals against Carlow in the Leinster minor final at Croke Park.

However, it was at Dublin City University, where Meredith is on a football scholarship, that Brisbane football manager Graeme Allan first spotted the player's potential.

"He is similar to Colm Begley and Pierce Hanley, the kind of running player we feel adapts well to our game," Allan said. "He is out here for a couple of weeks to have a look at our set-up and so we can have a look at him."

Meredith is likely to see both his fellow countrymen in action during his trial period. Begley and Hanley are both on the comeback trail after injury and are due to appear for the reserves in the next two weeks.

Begley, who played in an astonishing 19 games in what was his rookie year last season, has missed 10 weeks with a quad injury but Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews is confident he will be pushing for a starting spot again soon.

"We think Colm adds something to our group and whether he is in our best 22 depends on him and how the other defenders play," he said.

Hanley has been out for six weeks with a hamstring injury but is expected to be fit again this week.

Meredith will not be the only Irish youngster to try out for an AFL club this year with Aussie Rules agents Gerard Sholley and Ricky Nixon conducting trials throughout the country.

Dublin's Carl Dias, a minor with the county last year, is also due to fly out to Australia next month for a four-week trial with the Adelaide Crows. Brisbane have also been contemplating the case of Down's Paul McComiskey while the Sydney Swans have been linked with Tyrone's Kyle Coney and Cork's Ciarán Sheehan.

No county has proved as bountiful to the scouts as Laois. Aside from Begley and Meredith, Brisbane have also had Brendan Quigley on their books. The Timahoe man eventually returned home because of homesickness and Carlton have also been linked with Zach Tuohy. 

Click here for irishexaminer.com stories before this date   

[Aerlik]

Lads, there has just been a report on Sky News that tomorrow's "The Age" newspaper carries as its headline an article about the intention to set up an All-Irish AFL team in Sydney called the Sydney Celtics.  That's all I know at this stage.

[Uladh]

I heard this rumour months ago and heard at the time that it was the brainchild of Donal O'Neill