Rookie Michael Quinn has been delisted by Essendon.

In what has been a nightmare week for the AFL’s Irish recruits, Essendon has added to the international contingent’s woes confirming the delisting of Longford’s Michael Quinn.

Already this week Setanta Ó hAilpín (Carlton), Jamie O’Reilly (Richmond) and Chris McKaigue (Sydney Swans) have been delisted by their clubs.

However, in the case of Jamie O’Reilly, sources from the Tigers confirmed that it was the Downman’s decision to leave the club as he wishes to focus on his studies at home for the next 12 months.

Quinn’s departure marks a disappointing end to what was an impressive AFL career in the early stages.

Quinn made a precocious debut in just round two of his first season and went on to play six games in total including an elimination final. While season 2010 was less successful for the rookie playing just two senior games, he was awarded ‘Best and Fairest’ player for the club’s feeder side Bendigo. He failed to play a senior game in season 2011.

Meanwhile the AFL’s newest franchise Greater Western Sydney (GWS) could provide a career lifeline for one of Ireland’s delisted players. Draft concessions for the new club entitle it to sign any player who is delisted if they choose to do so without going through the draft meaning a player like Setanta Ó hAilpín could reignite his career in Sydney.

If GWS decide against signing any of the redundant AFL contingent, their only option is to go through the pre-season draft in the hope of being picked up by a new club.

Graeme Allan, general manager at GWS, has a history of recruiting Irish players having signed Colm Begley, Pearce Hanley and Niall McKeever during his tenure at the Brisbane Lions.

“We haven’t thought about it yet, we’ll wait until the (national) draft is over and also when all the delistings are complete at the end of October. Then we’ll look at what we’re doing,” Allan said.

The Sydney Swans' Tadhg Kennelly says he will retire at the end of this season.

The Sydney Swans’ talismanic Irishman, Tadhg Kennelly, has this morning announced his decision to retire at the end of the season.

Tadhg revealed to his team-mates at a meeting earlier today that he had been contemplating his decision to retire for a few weeks and it felt right.

The entire squad gathered to hear him speak.

Kennelly said he had a mix of relief and sadness after making the decision but added that he wanted to stay involved in AFL, possibly with a career in the media.

He told the media conference that stress had been affecting his on-field performance.

“I’ve always been an upbeat person and had naturally got myself up, but the injury with my knee had been physically difficult to deal with.

“I’ve had to work hard to get up for games on the weekend. But the decision to retire is a big weight of my shoulders.”

Swans coach John Longmire said the Irishman was a great sporting story. He was a player who had had a great impact on the Swans’ set-up.

“I’ve had an incredible career since arriving in Australia as a teenager. I couldn’t have asked for more, but now I feel the time is right to move on to the next phase of my career. I hope to still be involved in the AFL in some capacity, whether coaching or media,’’ Kennelly said.

“I’ve been here nearly half my life and want to thank the Club for instilling such strong morals and values into not just my football life but my everyday life. Being so far away from my family in Ireland, this Club has been my second family.’

The Kerryman arrived at the Swans in 2000 as a 17-year-old rookie draft selection.

The Gaelic footballer had left his home in Listowel, Co Kerry to try his luck at a foreign game he had never played before.

Twelve years later, Kennelly retires as a veteran of more than 190 games (194 at present), and the only Irish-born player to have won a premiership medallion.

The 30-year-old, who in 2009 returned to Ireland to win the Sam Maguire with County Kerry, had been struggling to retain his place in the senior side in recent weeks.

Tommy Walsh remains a peripheral figure at St Kilda.

The first thing you must realise is that Kerry people know Gaelic football.

Like Germans know physics or French know amour or Indians know cricket. And if there is one thing they know better than football, it is Kerry football, a knowledge that comes with the proverbial mother’s milk. It comes even with cow’s milk, imbibed from the grass that bounces childhood footballs.

So when they ask you what the hell is going on with Tommy Walsh, you need to have a good answer.

You explain that he is playing with one of the St Kilda feeder teams and is regularly on their list of best players. You don’t mention that the St Kilda season has been marked by a list of injuries and suspensions which should have given the coaches a chance to see the Kerryman in the big time.

In desperation you suggest that his long apprenticeship may have something to do with money – once he plays senior, the money goes up.

Because recent events have given Irish people an appreciation for the need to be careful with money, that explanation seems to satisfy them, though you are not sure if it is quite correct.

You do point out, however, that Walsh is unfortunate to be with a highly dysfunctional club.

A former player on a rape charge, current players accused of misconduct with a teenager, naked photos on social web sites, some of the top players represented by a now-disgraced manager.

You point out how lucky Tadhg Kennelly was to land in Sydney where there were people who cared about him and taught him the skills needed to survive as a footballer; likewise young Hanley in Brisbane and the lads with Carlton and Essendon, and Marty Clark when he was with Collingwood.

Last Sunday, Paudie O’Shea the former Kerry manager suggested in his newspaper column that the current manager should be on the phone to Melbourne to get the lad back for the All Ireland semi-final.

At that stage, it was agreed by all except a few Mayo fanatics that the semi-final would feature Cork – and Walsh always played well against Cork. Scratch that: he played well against everyone – if Cork won’t now turn up, Mayo would do.

The AFL should be made aware of the poor opinion in which they are held in these parts. The Irish are sensitive to poaching and wonder how an amateur sport can survive against the blandishments of carpetbaggers who come here like the recruiters who used to visit schools years ago to get kids to join religious orders.

When they see two years of real talent like Tommy Walsh being wasted on park football every weekend, they wonder whether these recruiters should be refused visas.

It’s not easy to persuade them otherwise.

Australia lifted the Cormac McAnallen Cup in 2010. The AFL and AFLPA have denied a weekend reports that players are considering a boycott of the series to force the issue.

The AFL and the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) have strongly denied that a pay dispute between the pair could derail this year’s International Rules series.

The AFL and the AFLPA have spent recent months trying to thrash out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to cover player wages and conditions.

The current five-year CBA is set to expire at the end of 2011.

Saturday’s Age reported that players were considering using a boycott of the series between Ireland and Australia to voice their opposition to the lack of progress on a new CBA. The AFL and the AFLPA have denied the claim.

The first test of the 2011 International Rules series is set for Friday October 28 at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium with the second test set down for Friday November 4 at Gold Coast’s Metricon. The AFL has said its planning for the series is continuing as normal.

“We are not yet at agreement and have been some ways apart at points, and a little closer at other times, but still don’t have a formalised new agreement as we come to the latter part of our season. At no stage have the players talked about any explicit plans to boycott particular matches [or] events,” said AFL spokesperson Pat Keane.

“That said, there have been media reports the players may consider things such as not attending the Brownlow Medal, not playing in the pre-season competition or not playing in the International Rules, but this has not been said at any time by the AFLPA leadership or the senior players on the AFLPA executive.

“Our position has been that we will continue to negotiate with the players and we are hopeful that we will get a CBA agreement in place by the end of our season. Our planning for the IRS has continued as normal and the AFL is currently gauging player availability and we have a good range of expressions of interest.

“As we get through finals, we will go back to those players who have indicated they are available and start confirming their fitness and trimming the squad to a final total of 23-25.”

The AFLPA told the Irish Echo that match boycotts had not been discussed.

“Negotiations are continuing with the AFL on the next CBA,” said AFLPA spokesperson Ben Hart.

“In June the players gave their Association strong direction that it should continue negotiating in good faith to achieve a deal.

“At no point was boycotting matches discussed. On the contrary, AFL Players’ Association CEO Matt Finnis gave a public commitment afterwards that players would continue playing footy for the fans.”

The AFLPA has rejected an AFL offer of $1.1 billion over five years and is reportedly pushing for 25-27 per cent of all football revenue over the next three years.

The GAA’s Fergal McGill told the Irish Times that the Association was confident pay negotiations would not disrupt the International Rules series.

It’s just weeks away from Aussie Rules International Cup and the AFL is gearing up for what it is planning as the “biggest and best tournament yet”.

The competition will begin in Sydney for the first time in the cup’s history, before moving to Melbourne for the finals series.

The prize for the two teams who qualify for the decider is the chance to line up on the MCG in the curtain raiser game to Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs on Saturday, August 27.

However, the Irish community won’t have to wait that long for a blockbuster encounter, with the Warriors taking on Great Britain in one of the stand-out fixtures of the seeding round.

The match takes place on Saturday, August 13 at Blacktown International Sports Ground at 1pm.

“The seeding round will be a real celebration of our great game with 18 nations competing on the same day,” said AFL International Development Manager Tony Woods.

“We’re expecting that the Ireland v Britain game will be one of the highlights and we’re hoping to see lots of fans come out to support their sides and get the chance to see that great rivalry unfold.”

Woods says the large Irish community, which is ever increasing in Sydney, was a consideration when deciding to bring the event to the Harbour City for the first time.

“We want it to be our biggest and best tournament ever. On top of that we are expanding our footprint in Sydney and with it being such a culturally diverse place, it was an obvious and logical location. We are also very aware of the large Irish population in and around Sydney and know that the Irish are great supporters of their national teams. So it’s a great chance for them to come out and connect to both their men’s and women’s team and support them through the opening stages of the competition.”

Woods believes that Ireland’s involvement in AFL through the Irish recruits that have made their name playing Australia’s Indigenous code is a big plus when it comes to competing at the Cup.

“Exposure to the game plays a big part in increasing knowledge of the sport in a country and it also increases the numbers participating,” he said.

“Also the International Rules Series increases awareness and interest. Couple that with Irish players like Tadhg Kennelly and you have a country that knows its AFL. We’re hoping to have Tadhg along to one of the games.”

As for Ireland’s chances of winning the competition, Woods says the tournament is too open to predict.

:: Irish Fixtures

Ireland v East Timor, Men’s Div 1, 12pm, August 13, BISS 2.

Ireland v Great Britain, Men’s Div 1, 1pm, August 13, BISS 2.

Ireland v Canada, Women’s, August 15, 3pm, Blacktown.

Ireland v Australia, Women’s, August 18, 5pm, BISS1.

Ireland v PNG, Women’s, August 20, 1pm, Auburn.

Ireland v USA, Women’s, August 24, 1pm, Ransford, Melbourne.

Pearce Hanley has hit his straps. (File Pic)

Brisbane Lions’ greats like Simon Black, Jonathan Brown and Luke Power are regulars in the side’s best performers list. But this season there’s been a new name in the mix of the Queensland club’s weekly appraisal.

Mayo’s Pearce Hanley, the only Irish player this year to play every game so far, is featuring with Brisbane’s elite. Critics are proclaiming that he’s on his way to being one of the best that Ireland has ever produced. But the former Gaelic footballer insists he’s not buying into his own hype.

“I wouldn’t look into it too much and I’m certainly not letting it go to my head,” said Hanley. “I’m keeping my feet on the ground, the most important thing is to attack the game in the best frame of mind.”

However, the star defender can’t help but be a little surprised at his new found status as one of the team’s elite players. The defender played 12 AFL games in his first three seasons but has already surpassed that figure easily this year.

“It has come as a surprise to be getting named in the best with those boys. I didn’t expect that. But I had a solid preseason. I did have a four-week injury but it didn’t hold me back too much. Also, I played the last eight games last year and that showed me that I could play at the top level.

“It gave me confidence and  also, the coach has given me the freedom to run around and I’ve been getting a few touches.”

For Hanley to say that he’s been getting a “few touches” is a slight understatement. He’s been racking them up for fun, recording a season and career high of 30 disposals in round 17.

He’s also been spending time plying his trade on the wing and it looks like the club are grooming him for a regular role in the midfield.

However, his future with the Lions is yet to be decided. Despite at least five of the club’s young guns recently signing contract extensions, Hanley is yet to commit and his contract expires at the end of the season.

His scintillating 2011 form means he’s also been the subject of speculation that the AFL’s newest franchise GWS is chasing his signature. Greater Western Sydney Head of Football Graeme Allan recruited Hanley during his time at the Lions. While revealing that contract negotiations have begun, he’s not ruling out a switch to a new club as yet.

“I’m talking to the club at the moment but I’m leaving it all to my manager to be honest. I’m not focusing on that. I still have six games of football to play this year and my priority is to play well in those games.

“I’m loving life in Brisbane and hopefully a deal will be done but if there are offers from other clubs, I’m sure my manager will listen,” he said.

The Mayo man’s focus has been homeward-bound of late and on the Connacht championship. Hanley had a late night watching his native county take the honours in the Pig ‘N’ Whistle pub but other than socialising, he’s had Irish company on field at the Lions. Antrim’s Niall McKeever has lined out alongside Hanley for the past five weeks running.

“I don’t think the defensive coach at the club ever thought he’d be coaching two Irish guys. It’s been great having him out there and he’s playing really well.”

Hanley and McKeever became the second Irish duo to take to the field together this year after Zach Tuohy’s debut in round 11 saw him and Setanta Ó’hAilpín make history. The Carlton pair were the first set of Irish players to play together since the famous on field exploits of Jim Stynes and the late Seán Wight at Melbourne.

McKeever made his Lions debut against the Fremantle Dockers.

Antrim’s Niall McKeever has admitted the only thing taking the gloss off his debut for the Brisbane Lions at the weekend was the fact that Zach Tuohy and Setanta Ó hAilpín’s effort for Carlton in round 11 meant that his presence on the team along with Mayo man Pearce Hanley wasn’t record breaking.

Tuohy and Ó hAilpín became the first Irish players to represent the same AFL team since the iconic pairing of former Melbourne Demons Jim Stynes and Sean Wight. Thanks to McKeever winning a senior jersey at the Lions, just weeks later the feat has been repeated again.

“Pearce and I were chatting about the fact that we could become the first Irish players to do it a few weeks ago,” McKeever laughs.

“But then Setanta and Zach pipped us at the post.”

The announcement of McKeever’s promotion to the club’s senior list and selection for the Fremantle clash at the weekend in Perth was greeted by much praise from the former Gaelic footballer’s coach, Michael Voss, who declared he would happily “go to war” with the Irish man.

McKeever’s selection came after he impressed for not only the Lions reserves, but the Queensland state side.

“Coming from someone like him it’s huge,” McKeever said. “He’s such a massive presence in the AFL, not just as a coach but as a former player and also an AFL hall of famer too.”

Much to the former Gaelic footballer’s delight, it was the coach himself that delivered the good news of his imminent debut.

“I’d played a state game (for Queensland) and got on well and I knew we had injuries so I thought I had a chance. But when you get a phone call from Vossy, I knew from other guys that had debuted, that it had to be that and I was thrilled.”

McKeever amassed seven disposals in his debut effort, but unfortunately for him there were no post game celebrations as the Lions fell to their 11th defeat of the season, on this occasion a 23-point loss to the Dockers.

At 196cm the Irishman has been touted as a possibility to play in a number of positions, in defence, attack and even the ruck.

“I played mainly down back and I think that’s where I play my best football. It’s good to get a bit of a run on … I think I played all right so fingers crossed I get another game at the weekend. Getting to play more (senior) games is how I’ll progress.”

Having been described as an elite runner, McKeever said he was just delighted to be able to run out onto the field alongside an Irish teammate in Pearce Hanley.

“Pearce has helped me out massively, even just talking to me before the game. It’s just a big honour to get to play alongside another Irish player.”

While McKeever has most certainly made Brisbane home, he could have just as easily ended up plying his trade in Melbourne.

A year before he was recruited by the Lions he underwent a trial at Richmond Tigers but a hamstring injury curtailed his chances of securing a contract and he ended up spending the 2009 season in Ireland.

“I don’t regret it at all because when I went home I had a great run with Antrim. We made it to an Ulster final and then were knocked out by the eventual winners Kerry. It was a great experience and I certainly don’t have any regrets.”

With Brisbane likely to field their two Irish recruits for the remainder of the season, there could be a very Irish encounter in store for the final round of the season.

The Lions travel to Sydney to take on the Swans at the SCG setting up a possible match up with Kerry man Tadhg Kennelly.

Australia's Andrew Lovett and Ireland's Mattie Forde in the 2005 series. (Pic: File)

Australia will host Ireland in a two-match International Rules Series in late October and early November, with the deciding test to be played outside Melbourne.

The first test of the 2011 series will be played on Friday October 28 at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium with the second test set down for Friday November 4.

The host city for the second test has yet to be announced.

The Gold Coast Suns have already confirmed that the club is hoping to bring the game to Carrara stadium.

“We have made a pitch for the event, as I’m sure a number of other venues have, and we are waiting to hear back from the AFL,” said a Gold Coast Suns spokesperson.

“It would be very exciting to host an IRS match on the Gold Coast.”

Events New South Wales would not comment on whether it has made a rival pitch to bring the event to Sydney. It is understood the WA Football Commission was preparing a bid to bring the second test to Patersons Stadium.

Australia currently holds the McAnallen trophy after winning both matches under former coach Mick Malthouse in Ireland last year. The Australians triumphed with seven-point and three-point victories in the two tests in Limerick and Dublin,

:: Eade appointed Australia coach

Malthouse’s successor is Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade, who has been appointed as the new Australian coach for a two-year term.

“Our contests with the Irish side have consistently seen the two teams separated only by a matter of points, with the McAnallen trophy regularly exchanging hands between ourselves and the GAA,” said AFL chief executive officer Andrew Demetriou.

“Rodney is the second-longest current serving coach in the game, behind only Mick Malthouse, and the appointment of Rodney is a clear message to our friends at the GAA that the AFL is determined to retain the Cormac McAnallen Cup again.”

The AFL has plans for a three-day event to coincide with the first International Rules test match.

The Australian Football League (AFL) intends to team up with the Spring Racing Carnival as part of an Irish-inspired event to coincide with the International Rules series in October, it has emerged.

The AFL is seeking public funds from the Victorian Major Events Company (VMEC) to host the event to run alongside with the Melbourne test.

The VMEC confirmed to the Irish Echo it had received a proposal from the AFL, but said it still needed to be briefed on its contents.

A spokesperson for the AFL said it plans to run the Irish festival in partnership “with the races” for a three-day event around the first International Rules test.

“We are still formulating an approach with the Victorian Government,” said the spokesman.

Much of the proposal’s detail remained confidential, the spokesman said.

The Victoria Racing Club has yet to hear from the AFL, according to its spokeswoman.

The VMEC assesses event proposals on their ability to have a positive financial impact on the state, so the AFL must demonstrate that its Irish Festival can bring in punters.

Meanwhile, the Gold Coast has launched its bid to host the remaining half of the International Rules series, the first to be held in Australia since 2008.

Melbourne and Perth shared hosting of the ill-spirited 2008 series.

Gold Coast boss Travis Auld last week told The Age the AFL and Queensland Major Events have entered talks to host a second game at a redeveloped Carrara stadium.

The Queensland Government plans to turn Cararra into an entertainment and sporting precinct prior to a potential bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Premier Anna Bligh announced last week that the venue would host the Gold Coast Show.

Gold Coast boss Travis Auld has given his support to the International Rules bid.

“There’s no doubt we’d love to hold an International Rules game on the Gold Coast,’’ Mr Auld said. “It’s the perfect time of the year for us.”

Events NSW said it was in discussions with the AFL “on a range of opportunities” but would not comment on whether it would bid for one of the Irish test matches.

John Heslin

Westmeath teenager John Heslin has yet to reveal the colours of his new AFL club but the 18-year-old has seen a lot of one colour lately – Red. The talented young Gaelic footballer, who has reportedly signed to an AFL club for season 2012, was sent off during his county’s U21 semi-final defeat to Longford. The St. Loman’s clubman had just returned from a four-week suspension after a red card during Westmeath’s Allianz National League game against Cavan in February.

While his double suspension will give him lots of time to practice with the sherrin, news of his decision to move down under for a crack at the oval ball code has been met with disappointment in his home county where he had been touted as one of the brightest prospects for years. Heslin shone for UCD during the Sigerson cup campaign and was reportedly noticed by Aussie Rules scouts during the competition.

It’s been reported that both Richmond Tigers (who already have Down’s Jamie O’Reilly on their books) and new franchise the Gold Coast Suns had showed interest in the young midfielder.

by Catherine Murphy