Tommy Walsh

[Kerryman]

As a fellow Kerryman I'm just curious as to how Tommy is adapting

[saintbrat]

welcome Kerryman.
I heard he was home for Christmas and really excited about the coming year,
I to look forward to seeing how he is doing, may be tough week for him- he is coing back from SNOW I assume and it will be 40 degree c here on Monday

[joffaboy]

Nice to you see you on board kerryman.

Word is that he is finding the weights training a bit difficult.

Coming from an amateur backround in your game where speed is of greater importance, the AFL regime is a bit of a wake up call, even for a bloke who is a natural athlete.

however from what I have heard (and read) he is adapting very well and to quote him "grabbing your footy boots and training as your work is great".

Apparently still finding it a bit difficult with the ball, but from previous Irish experience, that skill comes pretty quickly.

The word is that the Saints are pretty excited about him as a prospect, but I would be suprised to see him playing at the top level this season coming, after all he hasn't played a game of Aussie Rules yet.

All in all coming along very nicely and has made some fast friends with some players.

Some bad news for your though kerryman. Apparently his younger brother is coming to try out with us next year and young Morgan (I think thats his name) who came out for two weeks earlier this year, is coming back out to see if he can land a contract.

You can imagine, we, as Saints supporters are very excited to have these talents coming to our club, but we also realise that it is a drain on your amateur game, sorry about that, hope it doesn't do too much dameage.

Hope that helps.

[Kerryman]

David Moran was out on a trial and word around here is that he is nowhere near the standard required. Yes heard his younger bro Barry John is set to travel out but I'd be surprised if he made the grade. He is smaller in stature to Tommy.

http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/ar ... 90580t.jpg

[joffaboy]

David Moran was out on a trial and word around here is that he is nowhere near the standard required. Yes heard his younger bro Barry John is set to travel out but I'd be surprised if he made the grade. He is smaller in stature to Tommy.

http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/ar ... 90580t.jpg

Thats right Moran was his name. Was warned that he needed to do a lot of work on his fitness before getting to the trail - didn't do it an suffered the consequences.

Being smally than Tommy would be no drawback. Tommy Walsh is unusual for an Irish player trying to convert to Aussie Rules.

Originally Jimmy Stynes and Sean Wight who played for melbourne in the 80's and 90's were very big guys, with Jimmy being a ruckman, usually the tallest and heaviest player in Aussie Rules. Jimmy won the Brownlow medal, which is the hightest individual honor in our game.

Since then most of the Irish lads who have played our game have been smaller midfield types.

So Barry John will find size no barrier. If he has skill and pace and is thought of as a prospect, he would be put on a specialised wieghts training programme (like most young recruits), play in the reserves, and take probably two years to bulk up to the level required.

Be aware that this also is no drawback. The setup for recruiting players in AFL is very strict with an annual players trading period and draft. One of the concessions is that if you find a player from overseas (usually Irish, but an American has been picked up this year, and South Africa is being looked at), they are registered with the AFL administration and nobody else can draft them.

The Saints used pick 70 (or so) on Tommy as an "International Rookie", which also means Tommy gets paid a base salary of about 50,000 Euros.

Considering the average AFL player is on about 200k euros, it is not a financial burden on the club. So the club can develop a player over a period of time.

Also we have two new teams coming into the League, a Qld team in 2012 and another Sydney team later on. The league has compromised the draft to allow these teams to get all the young talent in the draft fro the next three years. This means the existing clubs are looking to get young talent anywhere possible and this would also benefit Barry John.

[Kerryman]

Also any reports on Tadhg?

[asiu]

nice work joffa

[kosifantutti23]

Also any reports on Tadhg?

He's still a pr1ck.

[Kerryman]

Also any reports on Tadhg?

He's still a pr1ck.

Is he hated everywhere other than the Swans?

[stinger]

Also any reports on Tadhg?

He's still a pr1ck.

Is he hated everywhere other than the Swans?

no.....i hate the swans....but don't mind tadhg.....hated them more when boofhead hall was still there though

[Saint Bev]

There is two types of hate in the AFL. There is general hate, basically you hate everyone that isn't part of your team, this would include Tadhg. Especially when they play your team. Its not really true hatred.

Then there is more serious hate. That would include Collingwood for most or a team or player that you have a serious gripe with. That can be caused by a bad experience at the football, them beating you in a Grand Final, arrogance, them belting one of your players etc. This type of hatred is never forgiven and is on going for the rest of your life.

[Dr Spaceman]

welcome Kerryman.
I heard he was home for Christmas and really excited about the coming year,
I to look forward to seeing how he is doing, may be tough week for him- he is coing back from SNOW I assume and it will be 40 degree c here on Monday

Yes welcome kerryman

Saints fans have readily taken to Tommy Walsh partly because he’s very much a mystery man to us. Many have seen footage on youtube of TW playing Gaelic Football but that’s about where it ends. The Saints don’t have a long or great history with Irish recruits so the fact we have him, and he comes with a huge reputation, gets us all pretty excited. Particularly when you consider our recent (comparative not ultimate) success has prevented the club from picking up the best local kids in the Draft, we live in hope that Tommy will provide the X factor we’ve been lacking.

It’s going to be hard for him however hopefully by the end of 2010 the Saints will have their second flag & Tommy, if he hasn’t already played senior footy, will be well on his way to establishing himself for 2011 and beyond.

[saintlee]

There is two types of hate in the AFL. There is general hate, basically you hate everyone that isn't part of your team, this would include Tadhg. Especially when they play your team. Its not really true hatred.

Then there is more serious hate. That would include Collingwood for most or a team or player that you have a serious gripe with. That can be caused by a bad experience at the football, them beating you in a Grand Final, arrogance, them belting one of your players etc. This type of hatred is never forgiven and is on going for the rest of your life.

Yes, I think very few people would actually hate Tadhg specifically....he seems like a great guy, I would be more than happy to have him at the Saints....

[Hurricane]

Also any reports on Tadhg?

He's still a pr1ck.

Is he hated everywhere other than the Swans?

As an opposition player he will generally be hated or at least disliked by the majority of supporters. I admire his story and he seems like a good bloke but he wears Sydneys colours so I have to dislike him.

On a positive note I am very excited about the prospect of Tommy Walsh at St Kilda. If he is even half as successful as Tadhg it will be a win for us

BANG BANG

[westy]

I just went back and read all the things that make Tommy Walsh tough in the thread <interesting stuff re; Tommy Walsh> and it is hillarious. I used to think some of the posters on dockerland were finny but this p155es all aver them

[Con Gorozidis]

There is two types of hate in the AFL. There is general hate, basically you hate everyone that isn't part of your team, this would include Tadhg. Especially when they play your team. Its not really true hatred.

Then there is more serious hate. That would include Collingwood for most or a team or player that you have a serious gripe with. That can be caused by a bad experience at the football, them beating you in a Grand Final, arrogance, them belting one of your players etc. This type of hatred is never forgiven and is on going for the rest of your life.

Yes, I think very few people would actually hate Tadhg specifically....he seems like a great guy, I would be more than happy to have him at the Saints....

id say mots supoprters of all teams like guys like tadgh and brett kirk and others who seem like good blokes.

matthew scarlett on the hand! hate his guts!

[saintnick12]

There is two types of hate in the AFL. There is general hate, basically you hate everyone that isn't part of your team, this would include Tadhg. Especially when they play your team. Its not really true hatred.

Then there is more serious hate. That would include Collingwood for most or a team or player that you have a serious gripe with. That can be caused by a bad experience at the football, them beating you in a Grand Final, arrogance, them belting one of your players etc. This type of hatred is never forgiven and is on going for the rest of your life.

Yes, I think very few people would actually hate Tadhg specifically....he seems like a great guy, I would be more than happy to have him at the Saints....

id say mots supoprters of all teams like guys like tadgh and brett kirk and others who seem like good blokes.

matthew scarlett on the hand! hate his guts!

Agreed. I have a few players from other teams that I like and will follow for various reasons - ie ex saints, someone I know knows them etc, or just because I like them and their story. Of course all bets are off when we play that team, but otherwise I enjoy watching them and hope they do well. Tadhg is one such player for me. I loved his jig on the dias on GF day too. Other players I like are/were - Richo, Shane Crawford (was happy for him that he got to go out with the GF win. of course I would have preferred it to be us with Harves, but given it wasn't to be, I was cheering for him),Brett Kirk, Sam Mitchell, James Hird when he was playing, Rama. Of the newer players I like Joel Selwood (not against us obviously), but love watching him in other games...he is a gun. Also like watching Franklin - those finals games he has played - the one in 07 and the first final in 08 were amazing. Rioli for Hawthorn, also keep an eye on Nick's cousin, Jack Riewoldt when watching Richmond games. Watched Watts with interest last year and will be interested to see how he goes this year. Daniel Rich and Natinui too. Liam Jarrah last year was also interesting to follow. Being a footy addict, while my first love is always going to be the saints, I love watching footy in general and you do end up having favourites in other teams. Will certainly be watching Goose and X with interest this year and wishing them all the best too.

Agree with the Matthew Scarlett comment. Can't stand him. He may be a fantastic palyer, but his arrogance is amazing. Would love the truth to come out about what he said to Harvey that day. Can't stand that he was involved in the match turning play against us in the GF.

[saint66au]

Just one little disclaimer on the word "hate"

Not sure how far the rivalry goes in your code Kerryman, but we dont "hate" opposition players and fans to quite the same level as, say, Celtic and Rangers lol

In our code opposition fans for the most part sit among each other happily and the only segregation that goes on is only part of a stadium, as some members do prefer to be among their own and so reserve a seat in a specific area for the season. At least 1/2 the crowd at any game is fans of both teams pretty happily intermingled.

Sadly even in our very minor (on a world scale) domestic soccer competition, which drawa a fraction of the crowds of AFL, there are already segregated areas for "away" fans, just like most parts of the world.

[Armoooo]

I get the feeling there would be a lot more hatred towards Kennelly back in Ireland than there would be in Australia. I think this has a lot to do with some of the revelations he made in his book, I can't quite remember the details but I think he admitted to taking out a player in a pre-meditated attack or something like that...

[Megamaguire]

Reg: "we dont "hate" opposition players and fans to quite the same level as, say, Celtic and Rangers lol
In our code opposition fans for the most part sit among each other happily and the only segregation that goes on is only part of a stadium, as some members do prefer to be among their own and so reserve a seat in a specific area for the season. At least 1/2 the crowd at any game is fans of both teams pretty happily intermingled.
Sadly even in our very minor (on a world scale) domestic soccer competition, which drawa a fraction of the crowds of AFL, there are already segregated areas for "away" fans, just like most parts of the world."[/quote].

Thought i'd better point out that Celtic/ Rangers are The 2 giants of Scottish Soccer and notoriously divided along Viva la Republic or God Save The Queen grounds.
GAA crowds are as mixed as AFL crowda and i think also American gridiron crowds. Regrettably it is soccer that has the cage mentality of crowds not being emotionally advanced enough to sit in close proximity of each other. Instead in many countries opposition fans are often seperate and caged apart from the home team to limit violence - it's weird i can't explain it.

GO TOMMY!
GO SAINTS!

[Saint Bev]

Yes, you are absolutely right about the word "hate". Just because we "hate" someone, doesn't mean we want to kill them. We may think about it, but we don't do anything about.............. generally

[kosifantutti23]

Also any reports on Tadhg?

He's still a pr1ck.

Is he hated everywhere other than the Swans?

As an opposition player he will generally be hated or at least disliked by the majority of supporters. I admire his story and he seems like a good bloke but he wears Sydneys colours so I have to dislike him.

On a positive note I am very excited about the prospect of Tommy Walsh at St Kilda. If he is even half as successful as Tadhg it will be a win for us

BANG BANG

Just for clarification I do specifically dislike Kennelly.

1. Last time I went to a Sydney game there were a number of Irish flags there waved in support of the Swans as if all Irishmen were automatically supporters of the Swans. My father would have been turning in his grave. I hope that Saints fans are not so disrespectful of another country's flag. Probably not his fault but

2. Playing in that Prelim Final in 2005. Automatic hate. Schneider and Dempater are the only ones I can forgive.

3. Walked out on his club at the start of 2008 AFTER the trade and draft period.

4. That jig.

5. Cheap shot on that Cork player at the start of the All Ireland Final

[Zed]

Then there is more serious hate. That would include Collingwood for most or a team or player that you have a serious gripe with. That can be caused by a bad experience at the football, them beating you in a Grand Final, arrogance, them belting one of your players etc. This type of hatred is never forgiven and is on going for the rest of your life.

Its Adelaide for me .. I hate them with a passion. Never forgiven them for the 97 GF. Losing the game was bad enough, but their supporters - singing our song but substituting " Oh when the Saints .." for "Oh when the Crows.."

whats worse is I moved to Adelaide about 7 years ago. Nice place but the crows dont have a single intelligent supporter ... grrr .. got myself worked up now - time to go for a long walk

[borderbarry]

I had the same experience after this GF. Cats supporters singing "Oh when the cats, come marching in" I found that in very poor tasts.

[Kerryman]

3. Walked out on his club at the start of 2008 AFTER the trade and draft period.

5. Cheap shot on that Cork player at the start of the All Ireland Final

As regards 3 he came home to fulfil a childhood dream and follow in the footsteps of his brother and his late father.

And 5 it had to be done, Laid down a marker, unsettled the opposition and played an outstanding game. And plus it's a cork player and the Cork Kerry rivalry is one of the greatest in GAA