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Post by kerrygold on May 24, 2017 10:43:42 GMT
So what is the future for Kerry football if this becomes a trend? All the best young Kerry players want pro contracts in Australia. One or two of them make it and it sets the train off. We lose our best young player or two every year for 5 years or more. The next decade is a washout for Kerry football. I'm not interested in investing the time, capital outlay and emotional connection with the team under those circumstances. I'll walk away from supporting the game if we are not capable of stepping up to plate to keep our best players at home. A dangerous precedent in now in place with Kennelly in situ and Mark's current progress. We live in a different world now, I'm not sure anymore if a strictly amateur game is fit for purpose. I'm not interested in the current model if the best players leave YOY.
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Post by Mickmack on May 24, 2017 11:10:00 GMT
Kerry is a big football county with little hurling and rugby. Kerry will be in the top 3 in the future as long as the good work being put in by clubs, county board and schools continues.
So will Dublin.
One of Mayo, Cork, Tyrone, Meath, Galway are capable of being in the top three now and again but not consistently.
So the question is whether Kerry can displace Dublin at the top.
The gaa scene is so huge now in dublin with all the success, money and full time people that I dont think Kerry will be dominant over dublin in the twenties if we lose others like mark o connor.
I thought differently some time back.
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Post by onlykerry on May 24, 2017 11:45:31 GMT
There are 18 pro teams in the senior AFL league and they are restricted to three development rookies on their roster. Development rookies can be drawn from a number of sources including international, alternate talent or New South Wales scholarship players. There was an age restriction on the international players - had to be under 22 but I believe this has been lifted and opens up the prospects of more "failed" American football players heading to Australia to try their hand at the alternative pro game. This is probably good news for Ireland as more US football athletes (who having gone through the US draft system probably score well on the Aussie draft system) should win available places. A number of Irish lads were invited to Florida late last year for the US trials, presumably this was mostly American lads - anybody know more about this event? My point here is that the numbers being recruited are limited - unfortunately the most talented will be most at risk for us but turning the entire Irish intercounty game pro is a recklessly expensive way of dealing with the problem. Protect the talent through better management of them.
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Post by givehimaball on May 24, 2017 12:23:36 GMT
There are 18 pro teams in the senior AFL league and they are restricted to three development rookies on their roster. Development rookies can be drawn from a number of sources including international, alternate talent or New South Wales scholarship players. There was an age restriction on the international players - had to be under 22 but I believe this has been lifted and opens up the prospects of more "failed" American football players heading to Australia to try their hand at the alternative pro game. This is probably good news for Ireland as more US football athletes (who having gone through the US draft system probably score well on the Aussie draft system) should win available places. A number of Irish lads were invited to Florida late last year for the US trials, presumably this was mostly American lads - anybody know more about this event? My point here is that the numbers being recruited are limited - unfortunately the most talented will be most at risk for us but turning the entire Irish intercounty game pro is a recklessly expensive way of dealing with the problem. Protect the talent through better management of them. From what I read the US trials that Shaw and Okunbar went to last year pretty much consisted of nearly entirely Aussie young players who are all very likely to be drafted this year. There was a week of trials and a week's vacation, and the vibe I got from reading about it was that it was being used by the AFL teams to get to know those who were going to be drafted better and sort out the picking order for the teams, as opposed to looking at any potential US talent.
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Post by kerryforliam on May 24, 2017 12:46:20 GMT
So what is the future for Kerry football if this becomes a trend? All the best young Kerry players want pro contracts in Australia. One or two of them make it and it sets the train off. We lose our best young player or two every year for 5 years or more. The next decade is a washout for Kerry football. I'm not interested in investing the time, capital outlay and emotional connection with the team under those circumstances. I'll walk away from supporting the game if we are not capable of stepping up to plate to keep our best players at home. A dangerous precedent in now in place with Kennelly in situ and Mark's current progress. We live in a different world now, I'm not sure anymore if a strictly amateur game is fit for purpose. I'm not interested in the current model if the best players leave YOY. That's a scary thought and should really bother the county board & all young footballers in Kerry, losing a fan because your upset that they're moving to a different career. Come up with a real proposition to stop this happening but as long as GAA is an amateur sport these fellas will head off and best of luck to them, we should be very proud of any county-man who makes it in a professional sport. The caveman attitude of some people recently is very disappointing. It's an amateur sport!!! I found the irony of Tomás O Sé complaining about it recently, when he's one of a few who've made a living out of the amateur sport, very frustrating.
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Post by Annascaultilidie on May 24, 2017 13:02:46 GMT
So what is the future for Kerry football if this becomes a trend? All the best young Kerry players want pro contracts in Australia. One or two of them make it and it sets the train off. We lose our best young player or two every year for 5 years or more. The next decade is a washout for Kerry football. I'm not interested in investing the time, capital outlay and emotional connection with the team under those circumstances. I'll walk away from supporting the game if we are not capable of stepping up to plate to keep our best players at home. A dangerous precedent in now in place with Kennelly in situ and Mark's current progress. We live in a different world now, I'm not sure anymore if a strictly amateur game is fit for purpose. I'm not interested in the current model if the best players leave YOY. That's a scary thought and should really bother the county board & all young footballers in Kerry, losing a fan because your upset that they're moving to a different career. Come up with a real proposition to stop this happening but as long as GAA is an amateur sport these fellas will head off and best of luck to them, we should be very proud of any county-man who makes it in a professional sport. The caveman attitude of some people recently is very disappointing. It's an amateur sport!!! I found the irony of Tomás O Sé complaining about it recently, when he's one of a few who've made a living out of the amateur sport, very frustrating. You are responding to someone who thinks we are going to lose 5-10 players over the next five years when the reality it has been 3 players over the last 20 years.
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Post by glengael on May 24, 2017 14:21:07 GMT
To be fair Kerry have been marginally more successful since 2014 at schools and minor level than they were at anytime over the previous 20 years. So that may legitimately create the expectation that our young players are more noticeable than heretofore.
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Post by Annascaultilidie on May 24, 2017 14:24:52 GMT
To be fair Kerry have been marginally more successful since 2014 at schools and minor level than they were at anytime over the previous 20 years. So that may legitimately create the expectation that our young players are more noticeable than heretofore. Absolutely; point taken. Mea culpa.
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fivenarow
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Post by fivenarow on May 24, 2017 15:18:36 GMT
I listened to Mark on Radio kerry defending the role of tadgh in decision to go to Oz. The thing more than any that I took out of it was his desire to go be a professional sportsman & test himself in the professional sports world. It's unfortunate for us that he's both gone & the recruiter happens to be one of us also, if it wasn't him it would be someone else & mark was going anyway. IMO barring serious injury I think he'll make it, whereas I don't think DC has the same physically or power, skill wise & ability yes but I honestly don't think that game would suit him. Anyway, theyd be mad to turn down an opportunity like that, go over for a few years & if it doesn't work out you'll still come back & be mortgage free before age 30.
We've had a decent enough run in fairness since Seán Wight RIP went back in the 80,s, followed by Tadgh, Tommy & now Mark so we can't grumble that much. In the whole scheme of things I'd say were well down the list when it comes to players going.
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Post by kerrygold on May 24, 2017 21:02:52 GMT
That's a scary thought and should really bother the county board & all young footballers in Kerry, losing a fan because your upset that they're moving to a different career. Come up with a real proposition to stop this happening but as long as GAA is an amateur sport these fellas will head off and best of luck to them, we should be very proud of any county-man who makes it in a professional sport. The caveman attitude of some people recently is very disappointing. It's an amateur sport!!! I found the irony of Tomás O Sé complaining about it recently, when he's one of a few who've made a living out of the amateur sport, very frustrating. You are responding to someone who thinks we are going to lose 5-10 players over the next five years when the reality it has been 3 players over the last 20 years. Potentially Kerry could have 3-4 young players in Australia at the end of the year. Your condescending sneering will not look very well informed if that comes to pass.
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Post by southward on May 24, 2017 22:13:49 GMT
As said, the numbers of Kerry players heading to Oz is small. The problem is that the ones going i.e Tommy, Mark were among the best of their generation in the entire country, real gems that no County could afford to lose. If DC were to go, that would be another real sickener for Kerry.
That said, is the growing speculation around David based on anything other than the fact that he's obviously sh*t hot? Is there any evidence that he is interested in the Aussies or that the Aussies are interested in him for that matter?
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Aodhan
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Post by Aodhan on May 25, 2017 1:30:46 GMT
Aussie Rules has the great ability of turning silk purses into sow's ears. I shudder at the thought of the possibility of never seeing David Clifford scoring those wonder goals again. Also Mark's new forte in rubgy tackling.
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Post by Annascaultilidie on May 25, 2017 5:18:44 GMT
Aussie Rules has the great ability of turning silk purses into sow's ears. I shudder at the thought of the possibility of never seeing David Clifford scoring those wonder goals again. Also Mark's new forte in rubgy tackling. He does seem to relish the tackling out there alright.
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Post by homerj on May 25, 2017 8:59:24 GMT
The issue for me is not so much that young fellows decide to take a chance on a professional career in sport in Australia...they are entitled to do so as others have said though I think in the circumstances of the game they are transferring to the gamble is a high risk one on a number of fronts . The issue is that the AFL / AFL clubs, through Kennelly in this instance but if not him, likely to be someone else ( a greater pity though that it is someone who we had at least a high regard for) is/are making money on the back of thousands of unpaid volunteer hours put in here by local GAA people helping to ensure the development of the players being cherry picked now. I have no regard for Kennelly now but the issue is bigger than him. The breaking off of any connection with the AFL is surely fundamental at this point but much more should and could be done. our best soccer players go to England. our top rugby players sometimes go to France. AFL is no different so i think we need to stop our persecution about it and move on and be happy for the players who are getting the chance of a lifetime.
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Post by dahayeser on May 25, 2017 9:12:12 GMT
I am from Cork and I want to see Mark fail in the AFL. I want to see him back playing with you guys. Should that happen no doubt there will be times I will cursing him for being a torn in our side but this is bigger than Cork v Kerry.
The more success stories there are with GAA to AFL converts the more the recruitment drive will be ramped up. Remember Kieran Donaghy's break through season - how deflating would it have been for Kerry if he was snapped up right after that. What was he 21 /22 then. Kennelly would have him on a plane if that break through was today.
A lot of the GAA converts have failed but I think it is a fine line between them succeeding or failing. Many have been unlucky with injuries - there could well be a run of successes now and that would seriously impact our games.
I don't want Mark to fail because I have anything against him. I would love him to come back, have a successful GAA career and make a fortune off the back of it. I want him to fail only in the AFL because his success there will impact my sport - Gaelic Football and lead to more and more recruitment of our best talent.
The more expensive failures the AFL have from our shores the better in my book. The success of the GAA which means everything me and thousands like me is more important than an individuals success.
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Post by glengael on May 27, 2017 10:07:46 GMT
Soccer and Rugby are professional sports with recognised and established international structures and career progression paths. Gaelic Football isn't the same in that respect and may never be.
Yes some people are going to turn this into what you termed as 'persecution' but I do think it is right to be concerned when a county loses even 1 potentially great player. It is right to express that concern and ask what can we constructively do about it?
There is a conflict between an individual's 'opportunity of a lifetime' V losing a key part of Kerry's footballing future. It's a conflict that needs to be looked at rather than just shrug and say 'get over it'.
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Post by onlykerry on Jun 1, 2017 15:50:11 GMT
GALWAY senior Cillian McDaid and last year’s All-Ireland minor winner with Kerry Stefan Okunbor have been invited to attend the annual AFL Draft Combine in Melbourne in October. The pair trained with the AFL Academy in Florida in January, along with David Shaw (Kerry) and Evan Murphy (Galway), impressing with their athleticism and ball skills, as well as their interviews with the scouts from various clubs. They will travel to Australia in September to train once more with the academy players before attending the national trials at Etihad Stadium. McDaid, who starred as Galway reached the All-Ireland U21 final this year and played in the course of the westerners’ successful Allianz League campaign, has been on the radar for some time. Full article www.daraghoconchuir.ie/apps/blog/entries/show/44555802-mcdaid-and-okunbor-to-trial-at-afl-combine
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 7, 2017 22:58:55 GMT
The 3 big lifestyle differences between modern-day GAA players and a professional AFL athlete
BY CONAN DOHERTY
GAA players aren't far away - certainly the inter-county players aren't anyway. But there are still some aspects they're lugging behind in.
Paddy Brophy is back in Ireland fresh from a few years with West Coast Eagles and what he's seen and learned as a professional athlete has opened his eyes.
The term 'professional' is bandied around now in this country as almost a stick to beat the GAA with but, when you're working 40 hours a week in a completely unrelated environment, you're not a professional athlete, are you?
If you were, you'd be doing everything right. Brophy can testify to that.
And, on The GAA Hour, the Kildare native laid out some differences between life as an AFL pro in Australia, and life as an amateur footballer in Ireland.
Preparation
"The big difference is preparation - in terms of physical preparation and mental preparation. You're a professional athlete 24/7 so you're being educated on certain things: your preparation, your recovery, your nutrition - everything," Brophy explained.
"They also help in terms of education so they really try to cover all bases.
"GAA teams aren't that far behind at all, it's just the time. Being amateur sportspeople, you're trying to balance work life with sport life so it's obviously difficult. If you're a professional athlete, you can commit your whole life to just being an athlete." Recovery
"Recovery's one of the most important aspects over in Australia," the Lilywhites man said.
"If we play on a Saturday, we get straight into the ice rooms after the game and sit there for 10 or 15 minutes. You might get into the swimming pool then and do a bit of stretching afterwards. You go home and get your night's sleep, looking for nine hours at least.
"The next morning, you're either going to the beach or straight into the club to do more recovery stuff. You're in the ice baths again or at the beach in the ocean for 10 or 20 minutes. Then it's stretching again.
"Even the Monday, you're looking at recovery again and you don't really get training again until the Tuesday. So it's probably two and a half days of full recovery before you get going again." Body fat
The Australians are said to be obsessed with body fat numbers, so much so that stories of Colm Begley drinking only vodka and still water on nights out were doing the rounds.
Brophy isn't sure about the vodka but he's sure about the body fat alright.
"Body fat is a pretty important issue there," he confirmed.
"You've got to manage what you're eating in your diet but it's obviously easier over there because you're training every day and burning the calories."
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2017 4:00:48 GMT
What a sh*t article. Only in Ireland would the vodka point be made with any degree of seriousness.
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Post by Whosinmidfield on Mar 10, 2018 14:42:08 GMT
Is Mark O'Connor's contract up at the end of this afl season?
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Post by An Bradán on Mar 12, 2018 0:46:02 GMT
After today's result will someone please kidnap him and return him to Kerry training asap.
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Post by kerrybhoy06 on Mar 12, 2018 9:14:31 GMT
After today's result will someone please kidnap him and return him to Kerry training asap. Can he coach defensive tactics?
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Post by givehimaball on Mar 21, 2018 11:46:47 GMT
Is Mark O'Connor's contract up at the end of this afl season? Meant to post the article below yesterday but slipped my mind. Last year he was on the ‘Category B’ rookie list which meant he could only play for the first team if he was replacing a player who was on the long-term injury list. The fact that he is on the club's senior list means he will be available for selection for all games and is a sign that the club have a fair degree of belief in him/are pleased with his progress so far i.e if they didn't think he was progressing/were of the opinion that he would definitely be going home at the end of this season, they could have easily left him on the the ‘Category B’ rookie list. The last I read his contract was up at the end of this season, but given his progress I would be very surprised if he didn't get some sort of contract extension offer before the end of this season. Of course just because he gets offered a contract doesn't mean he will definitely take it. www.the42.ie/mark-oconnor-geelong-3913764-Mar2018/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
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Post by Sons of Pitches on Jul 1, 2018 8:25:43 GMT
With Darragh Joyce making this AFL debut this weekend it got me thinking of Mark.
How's he doing this season?
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keane
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Post by keane on Jul 1, 2018 12:03:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 12:40:07 GMT
Mark is a regular for the reserve team and is playing mainly in the backs. While he did well initially he is a fair bit away from getting in the first team. I think he has another year left out there and has it all to do to make it out there.
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keane
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Post by keane on Jul 1, 2018 12:44:16 GMT
I wonder did the guys who ended up playing a lot out there like Hanley, Tuohy or even the Clarke's etc all get in and stay in fairly early or is there precedent for guys to break in after two or three years in the VFL?
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Post by kerrygold on Jul 1, 2018 13:10:59 GMT
Coming back after three years of playing reserve football is a big issue as are the years lost in developing Gaelic football skills at this age. None of them come back better players than when they left.
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Post by givehimaball on Jul 1, 2018 14:16:59 GMT
Initially he was on a two year contract. He agreed a one year extension a few weeks back, so the club obviously sees some promise in him and his development.
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Post by Mickmack on Jul 1, 2018 14:54:43 GMT
In reality there isnt much in common between GAA and the aussie game. The ball isnt round, the pitch isnt rectangular, the tackle is different, the scoring is different.....the tactics.....wouldnt you need to be at it from the cradle to reach the top...especially when its the national sport.
Tadhg and a few others are the exception that proves the rule.
I expect Mark to return in a few years. Hope he is in good shape.
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