Collingwood have left the door open for Marty Clarke to return to the club.

Collingwood’s Martin Clarke appears to be hitting top form for the club, producing a season-best performance against the Western Bulldogs last weekend.

After two seasons at home playing Gaelic football for his native Down, the 24-year-old appears to have found his pre-sabbatical form and proved yet again he’s comfortable performing on the big stage.

Clarke backed up his effort, again being named as one of the Pies best in their round six encounter with the Western Bulldogs.

The Down-man amassed a season high 26 disposals in the club’s 98 point to 77 win over the Dogs.

His surge in form comes after he celebrated his 50 game milestone against Port Adelaide in round four.

Elsewhere, Brisbane Lions Pearce Hanley continues to show why he attracted the interest of several club’s before he re-signed with the Lions at the end of last season as he too returned to the best performers category in round six.

The Mayo man picked up 24 disposals but couldn’t prevent his side losing to in-form Essendon by 67 points.

The former Gaelic footballer was the sole Irish representative for the last two weeks with his compatriot Niall McKeever failing to make the senior squad.

Meanwhile, Carlton’s Zach Tuohy continues his consistent 2012 season with back to back wins for the Blues, notching up 12 and 13 touches respectively against Fremantle and GWS.

While his round six highlight would have been getting the opportunity to line out against his former team mate Setanta O’hAilpin his abiding memory will most likely be watching his good friend being carried off the field.

Tuohy was the first Carlton player to go and check on the welfare of the former Blue who finished the match on crutches.

At the Sydney Swans, 2009 All-Ireland medalist Tommy Walsh is still awaiting a senior debut after he was named as an emergency two weeks running before failing to make the extended squad in round six.

Walsh scored four goals and impressed for the Swans Reserves last weekend.

After Sydney’s agonising loss to Adelaide last weekend, and Adam Goodes out injured, there may be a chance for Walsh to play this weekend.

The teams will be revealed this evening at 6.30pm.

The Collingwood Magpies have renewed their interest in re-signing Irish star, Marty Clarke.

Collingwood have left the door open for Marty Clarke to return to the club.

Club sources have confirmed to the Irish Echo that the Down star is in their sights for 2012 following their disappointing loss to Geelong in the Grand Final.

Clarke, who visited Melbourne during the season and held talks with the club, is understood to be keen to return to Collingwood, where he played 44 times between 2007 and 2009.

However, the AFL’s draft rules may yet derail Collingwood’s plans.

The new GWS franchise in Sydney has first call on Clarke if, as is expected, he decides to return to Aussie Rules.

The Irish Echo understands that GWS will pre-sign him and then look to “on-sell” him to another club in return for draft picks and, possibly, other players.

Collingwood is not the only footy club interested in Clarke with Carlton FC confirming its interest in the 23-year-old.

Carlton has an earlier draft pick than Collingwood and therefore better bargaining chips but the player himself will favour his old club.

The Irish Echo understands that outgoing Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse was not interested in re-signing Clarke believing that the Magpies had a number of similar players who were performing well.

However, the replacement of Malthouse with Magpies legend Nathan Buckley as head coach for 2012, is understood to have heralded a change of thinking.

Poor performances by a number of Collingwood’s running backs and midfielders in the Grand Final only sharpened the club’s resolve, the Irish Echo has been told.

Even though the AFL draft is weeks away, The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Collingwood has agreed terms for the return of Clarke.

Jake Niall reported that “Collingwood and Richmond have all but agreed to trades with Greater Western Sydney that will see Irishman Marty Clarke return to the Magpies after a two-year absence, while the Tigers will acquire Steve Morris, the son of ex-Tiger premiership player Kevin Morris.

“In a deal virtually identical to the Andrew Krakouer trade 12 months ago, the Magpies are set to give up their first draft choice, pick No. 25, and receive Clarke and youngster Jamie Elliott, a small forward from the Murray Bushrangers, in return, along with a late pick, likely to be in the 60s.”

Downman Marty Clarke met Mick Malthouse last month. (File pic)

Martin Clarke is looking to return to the Australian Football League but it will not be at Collingwood, the Irish Echo has learned

The Down superstar, who left the Magpies two years ago to pursue his Gaelic football career, visited Australia in June and spoke with club officials including coach Mick Malthouse.

But the reigning premiers, who are enjoying another stellar season in the AFL, have told Clarke that he is surplus to requirements at the moment.

The news will make the task of getting back into the AFL significantly more difficult for Clarke, who would have been exempted from the draft if Collingwood had taken him back.

The new Sydney club GWS, which joins the competition in 2012, may provide a new avenue into the AFL for Clarke who, alternatively, must take his chances in the national draft.

But given his extraordinary skills and stamina, Clarke will surely find a new home in Australian Rules.

After exploding onto the AFL scene in 2007, Clarke became a mainstay of the Collingwood side. In 2009, a trip back to Ireland mid-season for a wedding prompted a longing for home and Clarke announced his retirement from Aussie Rules in September 2009.

Clarke played in last year’s All Ireland final for Down but could not replicate the success of other Irish players who have returned from Aussie Rules, like Anthony Tohill, Dermot McNichol, Brian Stynes and Tadhg Kennelly.

Down were narrowly beaten by Cork in the decider last September. Marty Clarke’s contribution to Down’s season was rewarded with an All-Star Award.

This year, the 23-year-old has again been a key player for Down, but the Mourne men’s campaign ended last weekend.

Once again it was Cork who ended Down’s season and Clarke suffered the ignominy of a red card in the match, which Down lost 2-20 to 0-14.

After the match, Clarke team-mate Danny Hughes said he was confident Clarke would return to Australia.

“I think he will go back to Australia. And the best of luck to him if he can do it. Marty is a great fella, and he has given a lot to Down football so he doesn’t owe us anything.”

Marty Clarke in action for Down. He arrives in Melbourne this week. (Pic: Adrian Melia)

Collingwood Football Club has insisted that Martin Clarke’s planned holiday to Melbourne is not for the purpose of reigniting his career with the club.

The Downman is due to arrive in the Victorian city but Collingwood recruiting manager Derek Hine said that Clarke is returning Down Under to sort out his Australian finances before the end of the financial year.

However Hine, who recruited and even provided a home to Clarke when he was in Melbourne, said he will be meeting up with the Gaelic footballer during his stay.

“Martin has made no indication to us that he would like to return,” Hine said.

“Of course he’ll catch up with some of the boys for obvious reasons and of course we’ll meet for a coffee but I won’t be raising the issue (of him coming back). If he brings it up that’s fine, but I won’t be.

“Martin turns 24 next year so he’s coming into a different stage of his life. The conversation will only come up if Martin brings it up.

“We respect where he’s at and I know he respects where we’re at. We’re a different team now to the one he left. We’re going pretty well and he respects that. He’s also really matured. He’s well set up at home and really enjoying the coaching aspect of it. He’s enjoying his time there and his performances show that.”

Clarke returned to Ireland in 2009 after 46 senior games with Collingwood to play for his native Down and was instrumental in their unexpected march to the All-Ireland final last year. However they fell to an unexpected five point loss to Armagh at the weekend.

“I spoke to him last night and he was just really disappointed to lose. They had injury problems but it was a game they expected to win. I also spoke to him about Caolan (Mooney) because the (Down) minors lost as well.”

While Clarke’s future is still up in the air, Hine confirmed that Down minor Caolan Mooney will join the Pies for a training period shortly. Mooney is signed to the club for season 2012.

:: Tiger’s Irish recruit tips Clarke for return

Meanwhile Richmond Tiger’s Irish recruit Jamie O’Reilly, a former team mate of Clarke’s in Down, has tipped him to make a return to AFL in season 2012.

“The fact that he’s flying out here after a championship game, I think he will,” O’Reilly said.

The 23-year-old, who is in the second and final year of his contract with the Melbourne based Tigers thinks that the opportunity to return to professional football ranks will be too hard to turn down.

“I haven’t been talking to him and I don’t have inside information but just looking at what’s been said in the media by players and Benny Coulter it looks that way.

“Obviously everybody’s situation is different but I think that after two years with a good Down side doing his best to achieve what he can and win an All-Ireland he needs to do what he enjoys.

“If that’s playing with Down then he’ll stay there and do that but if coming back to play with Collingwood is what he wants to do and the opportunity is there…”

However O’Reilly believes that while a ‘Will he, won’t he’ saga won’t affect Clarke’s concentration or that of his team mates as they head into the qualifiers, it could overtake Down’s on-field exploits, at least in the media.

“I know from being in the inner sanctum of a team that it won’t affect the players and it won’t affect him (Clarke).

“I’ve read what Benny Coulter has said and it’s clear that whatever he does his team- mates and the coach will be fine with it, and they may even know by now.

“He could have said to them, this is the situation and I’m going to see how it goes. But outside of the team you don’t want crap in the media every day about what he’s going to do.”

:: “Three years is way too long, it would be like going back to the start for him” — Kennelly

Sydney Swans Tadhg Kennelly, who knows just what it’s like to make the decision to come back to Australia after a stint out of the game, believes that if Clarke doesn’t return for season 2012 it could be too late.

Kennelly left the Swans to return home to play his native code in 2009 and finished the season by becoming the first player ever to win a Premiership medallion and an All-Ireland medal when Kerry lifted Sam.

“Three years is way too long, it would be like going back to the start for him.

“It would take him two years to get back to the level he was at… so he’d need to come back by October, November and he probably knows that.”

While he appreciates the difficulty of the decision that has to be made, Kennelly thinks the former Pie should resume his AFL career.

“It’s a difficult situation because it’s his second year (at home) and he’s probably a bit nervous thinking can he still do it or not or has he been out of the game too long.

“A lot of it comes back to the club itself and if they want Marty back. And if they do, well then he should do it. But nobody can answer that but himself. It’s something he’s got to work through.”

Collingwood have left the door open for Marty Clarke to return to the club.

A RULE which up until now would have prevented Down’s Martin Clarke from re-joining Collingwood should he decide to return to Australian Rules has been changed by the AFL after Collingwood lobbied the commission to have the policy regarding former players altered.

There’s been fresh speculation that Clarke may return to Aussie Rules following Down’s defeat in the All Ireland Football Final, won by Cork.

Clarke himself has given no indication that he might leave Ireland again but Collingwood FC have said that they would welcome him back.

Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert said the door was open for Clarke to return, but the club would not pressure him.

“I’m sure some of the Collingwood players involved in the International Rules will make contact with Marty in Ireland next month, but nobody will put him on the spot,” Pert said.

Up until now, players who had been registered with an AFL club in the past three years and wanted to return after a period of absence had to do so through the draft rather than re-joining their former club.

This would have meant Clarke or any other former Irish player who wished to return would risk ending up at a new club.

The new rule states that clubs may apply for a special ruling that a player can return directly to a club’s list after a one-season absence.

The absence would be an unpaid leave of absence, for exceptional and compelling circumstances at the discretion of the AFL Commission or General Manager of Football Operations.

The new ruling comes into effect immediately, effectively meaning that Collingwood would have a case to re-sign the Down star should he decide he would like to return to Melbourne.

All rules changes were made after consultation with AFL clubs. AFL spokesperson Patrick Keane confirmed that Collingwood were the club who requested a change in the rules regarding de-listed players.

“Yes they did,” he said.

Keane also confirmed that Collingwood would be within its rights to apply for a special ruling regarding Clarke’s comeback, if he were to decide to return.

“They’d have to make an application to us but yes (it can happen). That’s a call for the (AFL) commission.”

The new player list rules have been made to help clubs cope with the increased pull on the talent with two new clubs, the Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western Sydney, coming into the competition.

AFL Football Operations Manager Adrian Anderson said the focus was to allow clubs to explore all potential avenues to build their list, and ensure the competition continued to remain as competitively balanced as it has been with 16 teams, into the future with 18 teams.

“The competitiveness of the AFL is the stand-out feature of our competition and it is has been achieved with the agreement of our player group,” he said.

Collingwood has signed Down teenager Caolan Mooney to a two-year international rookie contract commencing in the 2012

New Collingwood signing Caolan Mooney

season.

Caolan, who is considered to be one of the finest young players in the county, will finish his schooling in Ireland before he relocates to Melbourne at the end of 2011.

However, the club has played down reports that fellow Down star Martin Clarke may return to the Magpies fold.

“We have not asked him and he has not broached it,” Collingwood’s national recruiting manager Derek Hine told the Irish Echo.

“He’s playing great footy for Down and has an All Ireland semi final coming up. I am in regular contact with him as he lived with my family while he as in Melbourne but at no stage has [a possible comeback to Collingwood] been discussed.”

Clarke played 46 games for Collingwood before he returned to his homeland at the end of 2009. Reports in Ireland had suggested that he may be considering a return down under in 2011.

Meanwhile, Mr Hine said that they were looking forward to welcoming Clarke’s young county-man to Melbourne next year.

The 17-year-old trialled with the Magpies in June and showed enormous potential.

“He won’t be able to commence his contract until the end of the 2011 preseason, once he finishes his school and County commitments,” Mr Hine said.

The teenager’s signing is a by-product of a process that commenced 18 months ago.

“Our team in Ireland have done a lot of work with Caolan over a 6-8 month period,” Hine said. “I personally viewed him at the MacRory Cup semi final at Casement Park in Belfast which ironically was the same venue and same game where we first viewed Martin Clarke.

“On the back of his MacRory semi final performance and subsequent meetings with Caolan and his family, we invited Caolan to Collingwood for a month trial.  As a by-product of that trial we are really comfortable offering Callum a two-year international contract commencing with the 2012 season.

“Caolan’s testing for speed, agility and vertical jump places him up at the very high end in comparison to our playing group. This coupled with Caolan’s ability to quickly adapt to the skill traits required for AFL which our development coaches Luke Beveridge and Paul Licuria observed and tested throughout his stay.

“Caolan’s performance was exciting given he has never had any exposure to structured training programs before so the pure scope for improvement is enormous once he enters our system full time.

“He really brings a point of difference with his sheer power and speed.

“Caolan comes from a terrific family who are very supportive.  It’s a dream come true for him to play professional sport and we are really excited about him.

“It is very important that we continue to develop alternative talent pools to support and sustain our playing list given the introduction of the two new franchises in 2011 and 2012,” Mr Hine concluded.

Collingwood say they are hopeful that Marty Clarke could return to the club.

Collingwood have not given up hope of luring departed Irish recruit Marty Clarke back to the AFL, according to a report in Ireland over the weekend.

Clarke, 22, spent two years with the club before returning to Ireland last year, where he has been in superb form for Down in the National Football League.

Magpies CEO Gary Pert, however, has been quoted in the Irish Daily Mirror as saying that he had not given up on securing a potential return to Australia for the Irish youngster some time in the future.

“Martin left Collingwood in 2009 for personal reasons and we respected that but we have been in contact with him since then to try and get him back when he’s ready,” Pert is reported as saying.

“He came off the playing list last year but we are working with the AFL to put a mechanism in place to get him back because to go over to Ireland to recruit Marty was a big and time-consuming exercise.

“It also wasn’t cheap to recruit him and the AFL recognises that.

“If a player moves back for personal reasons it’s only logical he be allowed to return to the original club so we are monitoring how it unfolds.”

Sources close to the player, however, have indicated that the Down star will not be returning to Melbourne any time soon.

Elsewhere, it was another strong weekend from the two leading Irish exponents of the Aussie game.

Carlton’s Setanta Ó hAilpín kept himself in the Coleman Medal shake up with a two-goal haul in his side’s defeat to Essendon.

The big Corkman lies in fifth place on the ladder of top scorers behind Jonathan Brown (17), Nick Riewoldt and Jared Roughead (11) and Barry Hall (10).

Flying Sydney Swans half-back Tadhg Kennelly, meanwhile, continues to rack up the possessions in his first season since returning from Ireland.

The Kerryman had 22 disposals in his side’s win over Richmond at the SCG on Saturday.