THREE clubs are in the race to sign Irish prospect Mark O'Connor, Geelong, North Melbourne and Melbourne

Three clubs circling Irish prospect Mark O'Connor

Beat me to it! Would be great to have another Irishman on our list again! 

Interesting. I hope he picks us. I know nothing about him but we certainly need to keep adding guys with pace and endurance and the Irish guys often have toughness which makes a nice combination. Of course there's the Jimmy story but we might also be able to sell him on the development of Jayden Hunt as a raw talent who's come on. We might go from no category B rookies to the limit of 3 within 12 months which would be a good sign of improving investment in the footy department.

Interesting. Does this mean Joel Smith is due for an upgrade? Would he become a normal player on the rookie list or straight to the main list? 

42 minutes ago, DemonLad5 said:

Interesting. Does this mean Joel Smith is due for an upgrade? Would he become a normal player on the rookie list or straight to the main list? 

We still have 1 free spot for a rookie b listed player

We pioneered the 'Irish experiment' back in the 1980s.  This sentimental oldfart would love to see it continue with Mark O'Connor at Melbourne, where Jimmy and Sean would be sure to keep a watchful eye over his development.

Edited October 10, 20168 yr by Deeoldfart
typo

13 minutes ago, Deeoldfart said:

We pioneered the 'Irish experiment' back in the 1980s.  This sentimental oldfart would love to see it continue with Mark O'Connor at at Melbourne, where Jimmy and Sean would be sure to keep a watchful eye over his development.

Surely if we really wanted this guy, we would have Irish contacts who could talk to him. For starters the Stynes family, would be a great port of call.

Highlight reel....

 

Nah, we needed this guy about 4 or 5 years ago, he could have fiddled whilst MFC was burning

34 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Surely if we really wanted this guy, we would have Irish contacts who could talk to him. For starters the Stynes family, would be a great port of call.

My thoughts exactly Red ........ and I'd be surprised if they're not already on the job.

Just now, Deeoldfart said:

My thoughts exactly Red ........ and I'd be surprised if they're not already on the job.

They will have to ring the relatives back in Ireland, coz most of the immediate family lives out here, begorrah

He is obviously a serious player in his native sport:

Kerry starlet Mark O'Connor to try out for AFL clubs

Interesting he sacrificed a final to come here.

And no wonder he impressed with his clean overhead marking at the combine, given how he "lit up Croke Park with his high-fielding".

We can only have 3 'B' rookies: we have Maynard, we have nominated Daniel Allsop (altho it is not mandatory to take him).  So if O'Connor chose us it would be a certain promotion to the main list for Smith (a player can not go from one rookie list to another).

I think Smith will be promoted, regardless of the other outcomes.

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

We can only have 3 'B' rookies: we have Maynard, we have nominated Daniel Allsop (altho it is not mandatory to take him).  So if O'Connor chose us it would be a certain promotion to the main list for Smith (a player can not go from one rookie list to another).

I think Smith will be promoted, regardless of the other outcomes.

Allsop comes to us if he is not drafted, he's not yet a certainty

I wouldn't be surprised if Joel Smith is upgraded to a normal rookie, provided this is possible, I don't know the intricate rules of such things.

17 minutes ago, hells bells said:

I wouldn't be surprised if Joel Smith is upgraded to a normal rookie, provided this is possible, I don't know the intricate rules of such things.

 

2 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

We can only have 3 'B' rookies: we have Maynard, we have nominated Daniel Allsop (altho it is not mandatory to take him).  So if O'Connor chose us it would be a certain promotion to the main list for Smith (a player can not go from one rookie list to another).

I think Smith will be promoted, regardless of the other outcomes.

 

11 hours ago, Moonshadow said:

 

 

Thanks Moonshadow, in that case i think he should be upgraded to the primary list.   I reckon he will play games for the Dees next year.

Anyone know when the decision will be made?

54 minutes ago, Hulett Packard III said:

Anyone know when the decision will be made?

I looked up the trade dates thread and didn't see a specific deadline for nomination of Category B rookies.

ROOKIE LIST

... each club can include up to three additional players (now referred to as Category B rookies) on its Rookie List provided the player either:

• has not registered in an Australian Football competition for three years immediately before inclusion on the Rookie List;
• is an international player, meaning he is not an Australian citizen and has not lived in Australia for a substantial period;
• is a former NSW Scholarship player with that club;
• is a former International Scholarship player with that club;
• is a rookie Zone Selection for clubs based in NSW or Queensland.

IRISH ROOKIE PRE-SELECTION

Irish players can be signed directly to a club’s Rookie List under the International Player Rule and do not have to go through the draft. Previously, Irish players could not be listed as Category B rookies but took a spot on the main Rookie List.

Clubs can now list one Irish player as a Category B rookie but for each additional Irish player rookie listed, that player will be deemed to be a Category A rookie and the club will forfeit its last selection in the Rookie Draft for each additional player listed.

The above doesn't suggest time limits and from memory, I've seen players nominated into this category at different times during the year so there doesn't seem to be a deadline at least if you're only going to take one Irishman as a rookie. 

However, with most clubs due to start pre season training within a few week's time, I would suggest an announcement is imminent.

On 10/10/2016 at 8:39 PM, hells bells said:

I wouldn't be surprised if Joel Smith is upgraded to a normal rookie, provided this is possible, I don't know the intricate rules of such things.

Joel Smith is seen as best 22 in the next few years, by some who should know.

He reminds me a lot of a very raw reigning premiership captain.  

Chose the Cats

2 minutes ago, Mickey said:

Chose the Cats

That's ok, I always thought O'Connor was an overrated hack (well since I read he chose the Cats) 

23 hours ago, Mickey said:

Chose the Cats

No accounting for taste.