St Kilda have signed an Irish Gaelic football star to the AFL club’s roster for two years. Tommy Walsh, 21, will join the Saints as an international rookie.
The 195cm, 95kg forward was a member of County Kerry’s All Ireland final-winning side this year and scored four points in the decider.
Walsh was also the Gaelic Athletic Association’s young player of the year in 2008.
St Kilda believe he has the ability to make the transition to the Australian game and play in the AFL as early as 2010, a club statement said.
“Tommy Walsh is one of the most credentialed players to come out of Ireland,” St Kilda’s list manager Matthew Drain said.
“While he faces hard work to adapt to AFL at the highest level, we are confident that what we have seen of him proves he has enormous talent to become an important player for St Kilda.
“Essentially, we see that Tommy Walsh, in addition with Andrew Lovett, has taken place as a first round draft pick, based on his size, ability and credentials.”
bever fever
Guest
Here is the Peter labi article http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20091016164525143
bever fever
Guest
Yep MC, all good, i like the Irish players, but i think PNG will be much more fertile in the long run. I have to admit that i was hoping that more aussies might take off to Ireland playing Gaelic footy and cross-coding, but have not heard of any. I dont mean high profile AFL players but your average suburban or even WAFL'SANFL player
Michael C
Guest
Good to see Carlton have signed up another of the young PNG kids as an international rookie. The Doggies are sniffing around more in Fiji too.