The Irish journey
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- saintbrat
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The Irish journey
Ray and Darragh are on their way
Will be here for training in Early Nov
Will be here for training in Early Nov
StReNgTh ThRoUgH LoYaLtY
Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly..!!
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Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly..!!
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- Impatient Sainter
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Re: The Irish journey
I think this whole Irish thing is a waste of money, resources and time unfortunately.
- magnifisaint
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Re: The Irish journey
Just like NZ hey?citywest wrote:I think this whole Irish thing is a waste of money, resources and time unfortunately.
Posting 20 years of holey crap!
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Re: The Irish journey
The irish boys have about the same success rate as other rookie selections, i would guess
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Potential Irish Recruits
I can recall back in the Plugger/Harvey/Loewe era an Irish player called Dermot McNicholl getting a run with the Saints @ Moorabbin. Only registered a couple of games but better was to follow. Next arrivals were Jim Stynes (Brownlow Medalist 1991) & Sean Wight who were both valuable players for Melbourne. Since then the most obvious Irish success story was Tadgh Kennelly who managed a premiership medal with the Swans (2005). Stynes & Kennelly made it to around the 200 game mark. Then came Setanta O hAilpin 88 games (Carlton), Colm Begley 30 games (Brisbane), Martin Clarke 73 games (Collingwood) & currently Pearce Hanley 107 games (Brisbane) with Zach Tuohy 98 games (Carlton).
So there are some benefits to be had if we can do better in the lucky dip. Having said that I think Barassi had a bit to do with spotting and luring Jim Stynes to Melbourne back in the 1990s. Spotting the right player seems to come down to the recruiting ability of each club.
The way I look @ it is that our club has been one of quite a few that have been looking towards the Irish players for a fair few years now. I'd hate for us to miss a good player and have that player end up at the Swans, Melbourne or Collingwood instead of us.
Of coarse we currently have J.Holmes the American recruit showing promising signs and I for one have been quite hopeful regarding his ability to make a successful transition to AFL.
I wouldn't stop looking just yet.
So there are some benefits to be had if we can do better in the lucky dip. Having said that I think Barassi had a bit to do with spotting and luring Jim Stynes to Melbourne back in the 1990s. Spotting the right player seems to come down to the recruiting ability of each club.
The way I look @ it is that our club has been one of quite a few that have been looking towards the Irish players for a fair few years now. I'd hate for us to miss a good player and have that player end up at the Swans, Melbourne or Collingwood instead of us.
Of coarse we currently have J.Holmes the American recruit showing promising signs and I for one have been quite hopeful regarding his ability to make a successful transition to AFL.
I wouldn't stop looking just yet.
- kosifantutti
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Re: The Irish journey
You don't have to be Irish to get on our rookie list but it certainly helps:
Kosimctutti
That list came from fox footy. It's not right of course because only one of Connellan and Joyce should be on there but it made me laugh.Retained Rookies: Ray Connellan, Nicholas Coughlan, Darragh Joyce, Nicholas O’Kearney
Kosimctutti
Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year for 2023 "Kosi Lives"
Re: The Irish journey
Idiotic reply.magnifisaint wrote:Just like NZ hey?citywest wrote:I think this whole Irish thing is a waste of money, resources and time unfortunately.
- desertsaint
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Re: The Irish journey
I think the attraction is purely the false belief they are almost ready made afl players due to gaelic.
personally I would be looking at other countries before Ireland. African obviously, but not so much America as their supreme sportsmen are engaged in more lucrative paths and we would only attract older sportsmen that have given up on their nbl/nfl dream. The best prospects outside the footy states remain potential rugby stars, that we can lure over whilst still young - hence Sydney and GWS have a big advantage with their academies.
personally I would be looking at other countries before Ireland. African obviously, but not so much America as their supreme sportsmen are engaged in more lucrative paths and we would only attract older sportsmen that have given up on their nbl/nfl dream. The best prospects outside the footy states remain potential rugby stars, that we can lure over whilst still young - hence Sydney and GWS have a big advantage with their academies.
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- magnifisaint
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Re: The Irish journey
You must be a Carltoon supportercitywest wrote:Idiotic reply.magnifisaint wrote:Just like NZ hey?citywest wrote:I think this whole Irish thing is a waste of money, resources and time unfortunately.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=91930&start=25
You've really given the game up.
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- saintbrat
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Re: The Irish journey
Darragh and ray were not at the back of the pack when the 3 km was run
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StReNgTh ThRoUgH LoYaLtY
Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly..!!
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Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly..!!
![Image](http://www.saintsmembership.com.au/theme/afl-stkilda/img/how-i-want-to-be.png)
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- magnifisaint
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Re: The Irish journey
Luke Verma from Sandymagnifisaint wrote:who's the little guy in the middle?
A champion team will always beat a team of champions.
- saintbrat
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Re: The Irish journey
and despite reports to the contrary- that seems to be Lewis pierce in the background- when it was reported he only ran laps
StReNgTh ThRoUgH LoYaLtY
Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly..!!
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Re: The Irish journey
citywest wrote:I think this whole Irish thing is a waste of money, resources and time unfortunately.
Well, you have a fair bit in common with them.
- White Winmar
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Re: The Irish journey
saynta wrote:citywest wrote:I think this whole Irish thing is a waste of money, resources and time unfortunately.
Well, you have a fair bit in common with them.
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- magnifisaint
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Re: The Irish journey
White Winmar wrote:saynta wrote:citywest wrote:I think this whole Irish thing is a waste of money, resources and time unfortunately.
Well, you have a fair bit in common with them.
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Posting 20 years of holey crap!
- saintbrat
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Re: The Irish journey
http://www.saints.com.au/news/2016-11-1 ... ootballer-\
http://www.saints.com.au/video/2016-11- ... -preseasonHeading into his first pre-season and life as an AFL footballer, Connellan has taken on extra training to fast track the transition to the famous Sherrin.
“Darragh and myself, we always do some extra work just before and after training, mostly low level hands stuff just to try and get used to the ground balls,” Connellan said.
“Back home our ball has a predictable bounce, but over here it can go anywhere so we just kind of get used to little things like that and then some body work around the stoppage, how to position yourself.
“Things we don’t have in our game back home so we’re doing more extras in that senses whereas the other boys who have been playing football all their lives don’t have to do so much.”
Essentially arriving to the sport as a blank canvas from a skills perspective, both Connellan and fellow Irish recruit Darragh Joyce don’t have the bad habits some AFL footballer leaen at a young age.
Having promptly picked up the mechanics behind kicking, it’s talk of structures and work around stoppages that is taking longer for Connellan to adjust.
“There is an awful lot of structures around stoppages and things that we don’t have back home, so getting the head around that is a little bit tricky,
StReNgTh ThRoUgH LoYaLtY
Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly..!!
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Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly..!!
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