GAA:ONE OF the noticeable differences between Ireland teams of the past and those of more recent vintage is the number of players either attached to, or with experience of, Australian Rules.
This year’s panel features six players, four of whom are based in the AFL, who have played the game at some stage.
In a close season that has seen a number of Irish players de-listed by AFL clubs, Kerry All-Ireland winner Tommy Walsh probably attracted the biggest interest after his club St Kilda indicated they were prepared to let him go and Sydney Swans – home to fellow Kerry man Tadhg Kennelly, who recently retired after a career that saw him become the first GAA import to win a Premiership – stepped in to secure his services.
“I was at home and my manager spoke to me about maybe joining another club and it went from there. It was a very hard decision, but I just felt it was the best thing for me at this stage of my career.
“I’ll miss all the boys at St Kilda, but it’s a new beginning and a fresh start for me which is right for me at this stage. I’ll be going up to Sydney after this series is over.”
One of the attractions will be the likelihood of game time, which proved a problem at the Melbourne club.
“No matter where you are it’s an achievement to get games. It’s a tough league and a tough game. I came out here to make it and I’ll work as hard as it takes to make it work.
“It is frustrating when you’re not getting games and you think you should. It’s like any job – if you don’t enjoy doing it you’re probably better off not being in it.”
Initially he says that a desire for bragging rights at his new club won’t be a motivation over the coming two Tests.
“I’ve no desire to go out and show them. That’s not why I’m playing but it would be nice, I suppose to stick it to them”
Walsh’s international team-mate Brendan Murphy spent two years with Sydney having come out from Ireland where he enjoyed a high-profile underage career on the Carlow team, reaching reached the 2007 Leinster minor final after which he was signed on an international rookie contract by the 2005 AFL champions.
He admits that in the absence of realistic senior ambitions with his county, the draw of a professional contract was strong. Having recently joined the army, he retains happy memories of his days with the Swans whose offer of a contract renewal he turned down after two years.
“I enjoyed them. I definitely had to come out, an 18-year-old from Carlow – an 18-year-old from Kerry has the chance of winning an All-Ireland. I enjoyed my two years, but it got to the stage where I was turning up to training and I wasn’t enjoying it. I was thinking for a while about ringing home and speaking to the family.
“When I wasn’t enjoying it, I said to myself that there is no point in staying out here. It was my decision to go out there and it was my decision to go home. They were two great years and I made some great friends. It was great to catch up with them this week. That was brilliant.”
One aspect of the professional game that benefited Murphy was the attention to physique. He returned to Carlow a more formidable presence than when he left. But he feels that’s not an area where Ireland should harbour any illusions of competing.
“The young Australian players try to get their size up straight away. When I came to the club, I was 88 kilos. When I left to come home, I was 96. They try to beat it into you straight away. You have weight sessions three times a week. Sometimes you would do four.
“To play the game in the AFL, you have to be strong, and they try to fast track you towards that. The big men out here are ridiculously strong and you are never going to beat them that way.
“We have strong lads, but at the end of the day, the Australians are professionals. They are doing weights three or four times a week. We might try to get to the gym in the evening time, but it’s their job. I think the key to beating them is to just play football.
“You hear the boys talking. If we back our skills, then we should come out on top. We are not going to beat them in a physical battle.
“We have to beat them with skill and speed. I think the key to winning the series is playing fast flowing Gaelic football. I think if we do that, and if we are accurate with our passing, then we should win the series.”
The other AFL-experienced players on the Ireland panel are Tadhg Kennelly (Kerry and Sydney Swans), Colm Begley (Laois and formerly Brisbane Lions), Zac Tuohy (Laois and Carlton) and Pearce Hanley (Mayo and Brisbane Lions).
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