Australian sports agent Ricky Nixon today claimed that Kerry's Young Footballer of the Year Tommy Walsh will travel to Melbourne to train with AFL club St Kilda. Speaking on Australian radio, Nixon suggested that Walsh will have a week-long trial with the club.
Walsh, still only 19, made a stunning impact in his first full season at senior level and any move to the Aussie Rules code, should it happen, would be a huge loss to new manager Jack O'Connor
"It probably won't make people in Ireland too happy, but he's coming out," Nixon is reported to have told Melbourne's SEN radio. "I can't tell you if he'll want to play or stay or if he'll be good enough but he's definitely one of the best talents that I've seen.
"We pulled off a pretty big coup . . . he's previously resisted every attempt to get him out here," Nixon added.
The story, carried on the official St Kilda website www.saints.com.au, will undoubtedly cause a major stir in the Kingdom but it remains to be seen whether or not Nixon's apparent 'coup' materialises.
Walsh, who will contest the Kerry final when his club Kerins O'Rahillys take on Mid Kerry this Sunday, previously withdrew from Nixon's Co Mayo recruitment camp during the summer.