Tommy Walsh suffered a hamstring injury for the Sydney Swans over the weekend.

Tommy Walsh will be sidelined for the rest of the season after tearing his hamstring in the second quarter of the Sydney Swans v Essendon clash last weekend.

It is a tough break for the Kerryman who had won back his spot in the senior team after some impressive performances in the reserves.

He had scans on Monday to establish the severity of the injury and the All Ireland medal winner has been ruled out for the rest of 2013, according to the club.

The Swans were too strong for the highly-rated Bombers and are looking good for finals football again this year.

Elsewhere, Pearce Hanley struggled to get his hands on the ball during the Brisbane Lions clash with Collingwood.

The Mayoman chalked up a disappointing nine possessions as Brisbane struggled to contain the rampant Magpies.

Marty Clarke got a late call-up to the Collingwood side after initially being omitted by coach Nathan Buckley.

Clarke accumulated 17 possessions as the Pies ran out 49-point winners.

Both Caolan Mooney and Paul Cribbin lined out for the Collingwood reserves. Mooney scored two goals and got plenty of the ball in the seven point win over the Northern Blues.

Setanta ÓhAilpín was also a late call-up for the GWS Giants against Carlton but accumulated just one disposal before being substituted at half-time.

Meanwhile, Zach Tuohy scored two goals and picked up a six-week high of 17 possessions for Carlton as they easily accounted for the Giants.

Tuohy has now played 40 AFL games and, at just 23, looks to have a bright future with the Blues.

Tommy Walsh is back in the Sydney Swans senior side.

Tommy Walsh has been recalled to the Sydney Swans side for the eagerly-awaited clash with Essendon at the SCG on Saturday.

It will be his fifth AFL appearance.

The big Kerryman gets the nod as a replacement for the injured Sam Reid and has been named at centre half-forward.

Walsh kicked seven goals in the reserves last weekend but he has struggled to bring his ‘A’ game to the AFL thus far.

Two weeks ago against Fremantle he failed to score and accumulated just five possessions.

But Reid’s injury has given him a great chance to win his way back into the senior side.

Coach John Longmire said he hoped that Walsh would take his opportunities up forward this weekend.

“We just want Tommy (Walsh) to really compete for us and to give us a target up in our front half and to make sure that he brings the ball to the deck and allow our smaller blokes to get after it,” he said.

“That’s essentially what we ask of all our key position players, to make sure they compete and provide a real target for us in our front half.”

Longmire added that while the injured Reid would be hard to replace, he was confident that Walsh could make an impact against the Bombers.

“It’s just another challenge and an opportunity for another player and Tom Walsh had a chance a couple of weeks ago and gets another chance this weekend against quality opposition at the SCG and we’re confident he can do well.”

The match is a sell-out. The Swans are coming off an inspiring victory over Collingwood while the Bombers have lost just one game this season.

There was little good news for Walsh’s compatriots ahead of Round 10 of the AFL.

Marty Clarke was one of four changes for the Magpies for their clash with Pearce Hanley’s Brisbane side.

Collingwood will be favourites but the Lions, inspired by the tireless Mayoman, will be looking for an upset at home in Brisbane.

Setanta Ó hAilpín misses out for the GWS Giants but coach Kevin Sheedy said he would loved to have played the big Irishman against his former club, Carlton.

“He’s had a bit of a calf problem and he was out for a couple of weeks,” Sheedy said, by way of explaining his decision.

Young Aidan Corr, born in Tyrone, continues to hold his spot for the Giants, getting fantastic experience against the top clubs.

Zach Tuohy is named at half-back for the Carlton Blues.

Collingwood’s Caolan Mooney says he’s against the AFL’s proposed move to send an indigenous all-star team to Ireland for the International Rules series later this year as he believes the Irish team will want to face the best possible side the AFL has to offer.

“The indigenous players have a really special talent,” Mooney told the Irish Echo.

“There’s no doubt that a lot of the best players in the league are indigenous. But I think if Ireland is playing in the series they’ll want to play against the best possible talent in Australia, not just the indigenous players.”

Ireland face Australia in Breffni Park, Cavan, on October 19, with the final test in Croke Park on October 26. Regardless of what squad Australia sends to Ireland, Mooney said he’d give anything to get the chance to follow in his fellow AFL convert’s footsteps and represent his country.

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I’d absolutely love to play in it. It’s such a huge honour and the only chance you get to play for your country in AFL or Gaelic football.”

With the way things are going at Collingwood, the International Rules series could be the only chance the Down man gets to play alongside his fellow county man Marty Clarke, pending their selection.  The 20-year-old has always talked of how Clarke has helped his transition to the oval ball game and how much he relished the prospect of getting to line up alongside him.

However, despite his dream of the Down duo regularly pulling on the Pies jumper together, the Irish pair have only ever been on the field at the same time for a total of approximately eight minutes.  That was in round 21 last year when the Pies faced North Melbourne.

An ankle injury that finished Mooney’s season also eliminated the possibility of the Down men finishing a game together. Even in Mooney’s debut in round 14 last year, his maiden season with the club, he went on as a sub for Clarke.  In round seven this season against Fremantle (Mooney’s first senior game for the season), the trend continued with Mooney going on for Clarke as a sub when the former Gaelic footballer injured his hamstring.

“We were really looking forward to playing together, but I think fate just doesn’t want it to happen. Even in my debut game, I came on as a sub for Marty, which wasn’t great for him. So yes, we do wonder if we’re ever going to get a full game together.”

Mooney’s first game in 2013 came after a five-goal haul for the Collingwood reserves side and ensured his place on the side as a sub.  A calf injury weeks prior to that had interrupted his VFL form and consequently postponed the possibility of a senior breakthrough.

Despite usually having limited time to prove himself in the role of substitute, the confident Down-man insisted that such duties provide enough of a platform to impress, if you make the most of your opportunities.

“From a timing point of view it’s hard, but as soon as you get out there you just have to use your time as best you can.  You have to pull your weight and if you do well enough, then you can push for a regular spot,” he said.

Mooney is out of contract at the end of the season.

“My manager deals with all that stuff in the background. I just have to concentrate on playing football. From what I know the club’s fairly happy  with me. It’s hard to even think past Collingwood this early in my career. They brought me out here and taught me everything I know.”

:: ‘Chef of the house’

Outside of the football club Mooney has settled in Melbourne. His girlfriend Adair has been in Australia for the past five months.

“It’s good having her out here. It means I don’t have to worry about what she’s up to at home,” Mooney laughs.

“She’s on a year out at the moment, but she’d like to study physio next year. I’ll have to try and get her into a university here, or else she’ll have to go home.”

Mooney is not the only happily settled Down man at the Pies right now. He said Martin Clarke is a different man to the one who would have arrived in Melbourne for the first leg of his AFL adventure.

“He’s got a serious mature head on him these days. He’s very settled and happy now his girlfriend is here. They even have a puppy,” Mooney quips.

While the AFL convert has a puppy to look after, his other responsibilities have definitely increased since his first season in Melbourne.

“Last year I was living in a club house with two other players and everything was done for us. The club did our shopping for us and dropped it around. This is the first time I’ve had to do that stuff for myself,” he said.

Despite the initial shock, Mooney appears to have adapted reasonably well to his new domesticated life, describing himself as “the chef of the house”.

You’d almost believe him until you ask about his specialties. After listing the perfectly respectable dishes of shepherd’s pie and chicken stir-fry, he admitted that just sometimes, he resorts to tinned soup.

It looks like the domestic life may not be progressing quite as well as the football side of things. But there’s no problem with the latter.

Marty Clarke returns for Collingwood against the Sydney Swans tonight

Tommy Walsh has been dropped to the reserves by Sydney Swans coach, John Longmire.

The Kerryman was elevated to the seniors last week but has paid the price for a tepid performance against the Fremantle Dockers in which he accumulated just five possessions.

He also blew an opportunity to score in the final quarter, kicking out on the full when any score may have had an impact on the result which finished in a draw.

Walsh will now return to the reserves.

There has been more positive news for compatriot Marty Clarke who has been recalled for Collingwood.

The talented Down-man has enjoyed an excellent 2013 but sat out last week’s win over Geelong through illness.

Coach Nathan Buckley has overlooked Clarke’s Irish team-mate Caolan Mooney once again however.

Mooney scored a goal in the Magpies’ reserves win over Geelong last weekend in the VFL.

Setanta Ó hAilpín is named among the emergencies for GWS Giants after missing a couple of weeks for personal reasons.

The Giants are a 16/1 chance to upset West Coast Eagles in Sydney on Saturday.

Tyrone-born Aidan Corr has held his spot for GWS.

Meanwhile, Pearce Hanley will line up against compatriot Zach Tuohy as Brisbane and Carlton go head-to-head at The Gabba.

Hanley has been in sparkling form and the Lions will be looking to capitalise on their upset win over Essendon last weekend.

The Blues go into the match as favourites after winning three of their last four but the Lions will be hard to beat at home in Brisbane.

Sydney Swans’ Tommy Walsh

Tommy Walsh has been selected at full forward for the Sydney Swans for Saturday’s clash with Fremantle at the SCG.

His elevation ends weeks of frustration for the Kerryman who was named as an emergency in the last three games.

His form in the reserves, particularly his best-on-ground contribution last week against UWS, appears to have convinced his coach that the time was right.

“Tommy Walsh has been playing very well in the reserves so he deserves his chance,” coach John Longmire said.

Walsh played just three games last season and narrowly missed out on selection for the Grand Final.

In an interview with SydneySwans.com.au he said he was “bursting to play”.

In not-so-good news for the Irish contingent, both Marty Clarke and Caolan Mooney have been left out of the Collingwood side to face Geelong.

While Clarke is understood to be ill, Mooney was dropped by coach Nathan Buckley after making his 2013 senior debut last weekend.

Setanta O’hAilpin continues his absence from the GWS Giants side, despite last weekend’s hammering by Adelaide. The Giants face the might of Hawthorn this weekend and Tyrone-born Aidan Corr will play his third AFL match at full back.

Pearce Hanley lines out for the Brisbane Lions against Essendon on Saturday.

Collingwood’s Caolan Mooney

Collingwood’s two Irish stars played together against Fremantle on Saturday but the occasion was soured by injuries.

Caolan Mooney and Marty Clarke were both forced from the field in the Magpies’ loss.

Clarke sustained a hamstring injury in the second quarter and was subbed out. Mooney was his replacement and went on to score an impressive goal before he was involved in an awkward knee-cap on knee-cap collision in the fourth quarter.

He was forced to leave the field, assisted by trainers. However, he returned to finish out the match.

A spokesman for Collingwood said the two players were recovering well but Clarke remains in some doubt for this week’s clash with Geelong.

Elsewhere, Brisbane’s Pearce Hanley had another eye-catching performance for the Lions.

The Mayoman accumulated 31 disposals against West Coast but it was enough to stave off another defeat.

The Lions season is now on the line and, with in-form Essendon awaiting in round 8, finals football may elude the Brisbane side again in 2013.

Irish-born Aidan Corr played his second game for the Giants but it will not be a game he will remember with any fondness.

The GWS lost by more than 125 points to a rampaging Adelaide Crows side in front a paltry 6,000 strong crowd in Sydney.

Tommy Walsh produced the best performance of the season so far in the Sydney Swans reserves, scoring two goals and creating many others.

The tall Kerryman is still waiting for his opportunity in the seniors.

Next up for the Swans is Fremantle at the SCG on Saturday. The reserves play premiers Queanbyan from 4pm.

Zach Tuohy plays tonight (Monday) for Carlton against St Kilda.

Caolan Mooney and his dog Ali in Collingwood gear. Pic: Twitter

Caolan Mooney has been included in the Collingwood squad to face Fremantle this weekend in Perth.

It is fitting reward for the young Irishman who has been working hard in the reserves since recovering form an injury.

Last weekend, he scored five goals for the Magpie reserves and his good form has caught the eye of head coach Nathan Buckley.

Mooney is out of contract at the end of this season and has admitted to concern over his future at the club.

Last week, he told Collingwoodfc.com.au: “The aim for me this year is just to get another contract otherwise I’m back to Ireland.”

The 20-year-old’s elevation to the senior team for the first time since August last year.

This will be his fifth AFL appearance and he will run out beside fellow Down-man Marty Clarke who is in a vein of good form for the Pies.

Clarke has played every game this season, accumulating an average of 19 disposals.

Elsewhere, Setanta OhAilpin will miss the GWS Giants clash with Adelaide. The big Corkman is fit to play but is unavailable for personal reasons. The Irish Echo understands that he will return to action in Round 8.

Irish-born teenager Aidan Corr has held onto his place however and will play for the Giants at Skoda Stadium.

Zach Tuohy lines out for the Carlton Blues as they seek to cement their top eight credentials against St Kilda on Sunday.

Pearce Hanley will be looking to maintain his stellar season for the Lions against the West Coast Eagles in Brisbane. Compatriot Niall McKeever continues to be overlooked for senior selection.

Also on the sidelines is the Sydney Swans Tommy Walsh, who is once again named as an emergency for the Swans clash with Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday.

The Grand Final rematch will be the game of the round.

Sydney Swans' Tommy Walsh

Tommy Walsh will be the only Irishman playing finals footy this week after holding onto his spot for the Sydney Swans clash with Adelaide tomorrow (Saturday).

The Kerryman was subbed off in the third quarter of the Swans clash with Geelong last week after making an honest contribution up front.

Walsh recorded nine possessions and scored one goal and one behind last week. He also gave away three free kicks, all for ‘over-the-shoulder’ tackles but coach John Longmire has decided to give him another shot.

It is another golden opportunity for Walsh to show the class he displayed for Kerry in the 2009 season when he won an All Ireland winners medal.

He has only played three AFL games but much is expected of the 24-year-old Irishman. If he produces a good performance, and the Swans prevail, he could find himself one game away from a Grand Final.

Elsewhere, there is no sign of Nathan Buckley recalling Downman Marty Clarke to his Collingwood first team.

Clarke was dropped three weeks ago by the coach and , barring injury, looks set to miss out on finals footy having played most of the season for the Magpies.

Clarke’s fellow countyman Caolan Mooney also misses out but his omission is down to an ankle injury.

According to the player’s Twitter feed, he is back running again but the Collingwood website lists his as 1-2 weeks from full fitness.

Tommy Walsh has been recalled to the Sydney Swans for the crucial clash with Geelong tomorrow (Saturday).

The big Kerryman has been on the outer since a less-than-convincing performance against St Kilda back in May.

But he has consistently impressed for the reserves and an injury to Swans forward Sam Reid has opened the door for the All Ireland medal winner, who inherited the No 17 shirt of his countyman, Tadhg Kennelly.

Walsh, 24, makes his third appearance for the senior team and has a golden opportunity to impress in a high-profile encounter against quality opposition.

The Swans need to defeat the reigning premiers to ensure a top-two finish and a home final the following week. Geelong need a win to avoid travelling interstate on week one of the finals.

Coach John Longmire said the Irishman had earned his chance.

“Walshy has been playing well for a long time now in our reserves and he gets his opportunity this week,” he said.

“He’s a big, strong body and has really been working on aspects of his game and improving on them, and deserves his opportunity.”

The Swans development coaches have also talked up Walsh’s form.

“Tommy’s last month has been really good,” George Stone told sydneyswans.com.au. “He’s just shown that he’s starting to understand the game a lot more now, and that’s taken time and hasn’t always been easy for him.

Form er player Jared Crouch added: “I think he now understands his size and what he can do. He understands how to use his body and that he can be a bit more physical, which is different to where he comes from playing Gaelic football. For mine, that has been one of the biggest improvements in the last month and it’s funny how that then translates to taking a lot of marks and kicking a few more goals just by knowing you can control your area.”

Another former player, Stuart Maxfield, said Walsh was developing his craft as a forward.

“He did play most of his footy at St Kilda as a defender, so he is just now starting to learn the subtleties of playing as a forward, including leading patterns and how to use his body. That’s starting to become a bit more instinctive for him now.”

Elsewhere, Marty Clarke remains out of favour at Collingwood while Caolan Mooney continues to nurse his ankle injury.

Pearce Hanley plays his final game of the season for the Brisbane Lions. The Mayo-man has enjoyed a fantastic season and is now considered one of the game’s most improved defenders. He is ranked in the top 20 for “total kicks” in 2012.

Marty Clarke has been dropped again by Collingwood.

Marty Clarke is back in the reserves.

The Down-man has been in and out of the Magpies side this year and has found it difficult to build momentum with his form.

He was first dropped in late June but produced a fantastic performance in the reserves to put himself back in the frame.

“Marty’s attitude has been expected but at the same time has been excellent,” coach Nathan Buckley said at the time.

He played the first ten AFL games for the Pies before being dropped for Round 12. He was recalled for Round 13, then dropped for Round 14, recalled for the next two matches before being dropped again.

After missing out in Round 17 he was back in the seniors last week for the facile win against the GWS Giants. He accumulated 16 disposals but coach Buckley has once again singled him out this week’s clash with St Kilda.

His compatriot team-mate Caolan Mooney is also out with an apparent hamstring injury.

Last weekend, Mooney score his first AFL goal before being subbed out.

Elsewhere, Tommy Walsh remains on the sidelines at the Sydney Swans while Niall McKeever has been dropped by the Brisbane Lions.

Zach Tuohy has retained his place for Carlton as they face the table-topping Sydney Swans, looking for their ninth straight win. The Blues are without the suspended captain and superstar Chris Judd.